The extent of the divisions between the British and Irish governments over the composition of the North's commission on policing has been revealed in a confidential Northern Ireland Office briefing document.
The three-page memorandum written by an official working as private secretary to the Northern Secretary, Dr Mo Mowlam, also details telephone contacts she had with Dublin, the White House, the SDLP and Sinn Fein immediately prior to the commission's membership being announced.
The document, leaked to the Ulster Unionist MP, Mr Jeffrey Donaldson, confirms the matter was discussed by the Taoiseach, and the British Prime Minister, Mr Blair, during the latter's visit to Dublin last week.
The make-up of the commission was announced last Wednesday and the document describes the events of the previous 24 hours.
The NIO official describes taking a phone call from Mr Peter Bell, who heads the British side on the Anglo-Irish secretariat at Maryfield, reporting "major Irish concerns" over leaks about the announcement of the commission despite assurances from Mr Blair that further Irish representations would be considered.
Although it is not stated in the document, media reports at the time indicated strongly that the membership of the commission would not include any of the names put forward by Dublin.
The document reveals that Dr Mowlam contacted the head of the Anglo-Irish division in the Department of Foreign Affairs, Mr Dermot Gallagher, who expressed concern that Sinn Fein and the SDLP would criticise the composition of the new body.
He also conveyed unease in Irish-American circles over the choice of the Secretary of Public Safety in Massachusetts, Ms Kathleen O'Toole, and argued that a "nationalist with street cred within Northern Ireland" should be included, mentioning in particular two prominent human rights activists, Ms Angela Hegarty and Mr Martin O'Brien. He said this was essential to "balance" the nomination of Mr Peter Smyth QC, former secretary of the UUP.
Dr Mowlam responded that if she could persuade the SDLP and Sinn Fein to refrain from openly criticising the membership, which could include the prominent US criminologist, Mr Gerald Lynch, "would the Irish be prepared to go along"?
Dr Mowlam later received a call from Senator Edward Kennedy describing the choice of Mr Lynch as "very good news" and stating he had no objections to Ms O'Toole.
Contacted next morning, hours before the announcement, Mr Seamus Mallon of the SDLP was, according to the document, "not ecstatic", but "on board". Mr Martin McGuinness of Sinn Fein was "clearly not happy" but would do his best not to make it a public issue.
Dr Mowlam repeatedly insisted she was under extreme media pressure to make the announcement, but when she called Mr Gallagher again he persuaded her to wait until the Taoiseach had been informed.
Ten minutes later, Mr Gallagher said he had taken a "very emotional and angry telephone call" from the Sinn Fein press officer, Ms Rita O'Hare, who is in charge of the party's liaison with the Irish Government.
Dr Mowlam called Ms O'Hare to explain "the pressures which she was under" and pointing out Mr McGuinness "had seemed prepared to not go ballistic".
She telephoned the US Deputy National Security Adviser, Mr Jim Steinberg, and apologised if the Americans were "less than satisfied" with the process of consultation. He admitted to "some degree of irritation", not least given the involvement of two Americans.
Not having heard back from Dublin, Dr Mowlam phoned Mr Gallagher again to say she "could not withstand the media pressure any further". She asked him to convey an apology to the Taoiseach and undertook to have improved consultation in the future.
Commenting on the document Mr Donaldson said last night: "Many people in Northern Ireland will share my deep concern about the secretary of state telephoning someone like Rita O'Hare to discuss with her the composition of the commission which will investigate the future of the RUC, when one considers that Rita O'Hare has been wanted for questioning in connection with terrorist-related offences for a number of years by that very RUC. Many unionists will also be very concerned by the extent to which the Irish government has been involved in deliberations over the composition of the commission on the RUC."
The Sinn Fein president, Mr Gerry Adams, pointed out that Ms O'Hare was a representative of the North's third-largest political party and said Mr Donaldson should stop trying to score political points.
Commenting on the leak, the NIO said: "It is characteristic of the Prime Minister's and the Secretary of State's approach that they seek the broadest possible support for decisions affecting the peace process. In the end, government decisions are made by the government."