IT IS more than 12 years since the country woke up to hear that a garda had been murdered doing his duty. It is a sickening feeling that, on top of all the other murders of recent times, we now have an apparent paramilitary murder of a garda.
Drapier hears the speculation that the Garda is looking for Provos. If that speculation is correct, it seems to be relevant to the talks that are due to happen in Belfast on Monday.
Sinn Fein is monstrously displeased by the BBC's temerity in putting out a programme on Thursday night identifying certain prominent members as leading lights in the IRA. As we say in the business, Sinn Fein is great at giving it but not so good at taking it.
Last week's election in the North did not do much for the cause of moderation. It reassured those who thought the whole idea was mad from the start to realise they were right.
That is small consolation to parties like the SDLP and Alliance, both of which lost out, particularly the latter.
The relatively poor result obtained by the Ulster Unionists may somehow clip David Trimble's wings for the future and make him less eager to throw his weight about.
It is a sombre and sobering thought that the beneficiaries from the rather peculiar election were Sinn Fein and Paisley's Democratic Unionists. These are the two parties least interested in moderate politics and least anxious to turn their backs on the past.
What use has this election proved to ensure progress and compromise in the talks beginning on Monday? The talks could have been extremely important for the future of the North and indeed the whole island. They seem unlikely to work out that way.
There probably will not be full representation of all parties. If certain people are there, certain others will not be. Those who will claim the greatest mandate at the start of the talks are the very people who are most likely to say No most often and most forcefully.
It is somewhat depressing that, after all the preparations, the present scenario and the immediate prospects look so bleak. The difficulties were compounded, as indeed they were intended to be, by the IRA statement on Wednesday that it will not be decommissioning and will surrender nothing until there is a final, and total, political settlement.
Drapier has every sympathy with Seamus Mallon when he said on television this week that the SDLP was well capable of representing the nationalist community.
And if Seamus has his way there will be no more playing second fiddle to Sinn Fein. The SDLP has paid a high price for playing along with those who play with fire. It got its fingers burned this time. Could it happen to it again in the Westminster general election?
MARY Robinson has certainly achieved one of her ambitions in paying the first official visit by an Irish president to Britain. She is well able to handle herself in a situation like this and represents the country more than adequately.
Perhaps because this visit has taken place, Aras an Uachtarain is again floating (through selected media outlets) the possibility that Mary might become Secretary General of the United Nations. If she wasn't interested, she could simply kill the idea. The fact that she doesn't suggests to Drapier that there is indeed an interest. It will be fascinating to see how things develop on this issue during the summer and autumn.
Like some others whose efforts to do the right thing are not always successful, poor John Bruton had a somewhat unhappy episode last Wednesday morning.
He was due to go to Croke Park to open its new state of the art stand with all its corporate hospitality suites and other facilities needed by the common man, your average GAA supporter. All was in readiness. An engraved plaque was to be unveiled recording the fact that An Taoiseach had done the honours.
But an hour, or less, before the appointed time, a telephone call comes to Jones's Road saying that the Taoiseach would not be coming as he had decided to go to London instead to have a private meeting with Mr Trimble.
There was nearly an earthquake within the higher echelons of the GAA. To stand up the GAA, the staunch upholder of Rule 31, on its big day in order to visit a cricket playing Unionist MP in Westminster was a bit much. Poor Bernard Allen was told to deputise at short notice.
Jack Boothman, in reading his script, made three references to the Taoiseach, for each of which he apologised, and said that he had not had enough time to scratch out the name. Bertie was in his element and won an All Ireland medal for his troubles.
Now the big question is "Will the plaque come down from the wall?" If it does, what will go up in its place? Perhaps a list of true national priorities and a reminder to future Taoisigh not to stand up the GAA at an hour's notice in favour of a Unionist MP.
Could you imagine Jack Lynch or Charlie Haughey doing that? Will Johnny B. get a stand ticket for this year's All Ireland Final? Drapier thinks he might have to settle for a square foot on Hill 16 and become one of the lads. {CORRECTION} 96060400005