Hopes of restoring ceasefire fade after London bus bombing

Saturday/Sunday

GOVERNMENT efforts to restore the IRA ceasefire received a further setback when London city centre was hit by a massive and premature explosion on a double decker bus on Sunday night. One man was killed and nine passengers were injured in the blast which occurred at around 10.40 p.m. near Aldwych and Covent Garden. Scotland Yard later identified the dead man as Edward O'Brien (21) of Gorey, Co Wexford, and said that he was carrying the bomb.

A Dublin man who was injured in the explosion was placed under armed guard in hospital. It would be two days before Mr Brendan Woolhead (33), who suffered head, leg and shoulder injuries, was declared an innocent victim.

Bishop Brendan Comiskey of Ferns made his first public appearance in months at Mass in St Aidan's Cathedral, Enniscorthy, on Saturday night. He apologised to a large congregation present for not informing people that he was going to the US to receive treatment for alcoholism. He admitted that he had made mistakes in his handling of child sex abuse cases, but claimed he had "never, ever put at risk a child's safety to protect any priest".

The Irish rugby international, Peter Clohessy (29), returned to Limerick in disgrace, after he received a six month ban for stamping on a French player's head.

Monday

The Government denied that one of the main loyalist groups, the Progressive Unionist Party (PUP), had cut off direct links with it. The PUP would now communicate through third party intermediaries only, this newspaper reported.

Amid fears of further violence, detonators were found in a rental car near Dublin Airport. Garda and Army experts identified them as US made "blasting caps", normally associated with the IRA rather than loyalist paramilitaries.

The Garda confirmed its first breakthrough in the investigation into the missing Kilkenny woman, Ms Josephine Dollard (21), who disappeared while hitching home on November 9th last. A woman who said she had left Ms Dollard in a car with two men on the night in question was interviewed by gardai.

The Supreme Court judge, Mr Justice O'Flaherty, called for speedier trials and financial compensation for victims of crime. He was speaking at the publication of a rights statement by the Victim Support organisation in Dublin.

The President, Mrs Robinson, began her four day visit to the US with a business lunch in Chicago.

Tuesday

Efforts to restore the IRA cease fire continued, with the Taoiseach asking the British Prime Minister to set a specific date for the opening of all party talks.

As the crude oil cargo from the stricken supertanker, Sea Empress, threatened wildlife on the Welsh coast, the Minister of State for the Marine, Mr Eamon Gilmore, said there was no immediate danger to the Irish coastline.

The Minister of Justice, Ms Owen, said she would abolish the Garda Representative Association (GRA) if it did not accept the reforms currently being drafted. The GRA said it would not accept one of the central changes proposed, involving voting system reforms. The rival Garda Federation welcomed the reforms.

Wednesday

The British Labour Party's former Northern Ireland spokesman, Mr Kevin McNamara, launched what was described as a "blistering" attack on Mr John Major's handling of the peace process, and on his own party leader's support of it.

The parents of Edward O'Brien, who was killed while carrying the IRA bomb in London on Sunday, condemned the action and said they wanted no paramilitary involvement in their son's funeral. In a statement read by their solicitor, Myles and Margaret O'Brien expressed deep sorrow for those injured.

European Commission proposals to extend majority voting into sensitive areas, such as foreign policy, could ignite new controversy throughout the EU, this newspaper reported.

The Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) forecast a 5 per cent growth rate and suggested that the rapidly expanding economy would support up to 31,000 new jobs.

The Minister for Health, Mr Noonan, introduced measures to help drug addicts.

Thursday

The British and Irish governments were reported to be converging on proposals for an all Ireland referendum, inviting support for democratic principles and an end to violence.

US Senator George Mitchell, who chaired the international body on decommissioning, held a 75 minute meeting with the Government's three party leaders in Dublin before flying to London.

The UUP leader, Mr David Trimble, was reported to have vetoed the concept of proximity talks, proposed by the Tanaiste ahead of elections in the North.

The Bank of Ireland announced a radical move to provide mortgages for the unemployed from April.

Gardai seized about £400,000 worth of heroin and detained a man for questioning in a surveillance operation in Ballyfermot.

The Minister of State for the Marine appointed a former Kerry and Galway county manager, Mr Seamas Keating, as commissioner to the Southern Regional Fisheries Board, in response to "management deficiencies".