蜜芽传媒

Before the Good Friday Agreement the Conservatives too had been pursuing the prospect of peace with the IRA.

Sir John Major, the UK Prime Minister between 1992 and 1997, said he believed it had been "essential" to begin talks with the IRA at that time, in order "to stop the violence".

Speaking to Martha Kearney, Sir John said his government had "a link" to the IRA and through this link they received a message; asking for their advice "on how to bring the conflict to a close". Sir John said he was "absolutely confident" that this message came from Martin McGuinness, even though Mr McGuinness denied it.

After the Canary Wharf bomb ended the first ceasefire with the IRA, Sir John Major said that although he "loathed" what the IRA did when they "broke their word" on those occasions, "he understood what was behind it" and that was why the peace process carried on.

(Photo: John Major. Credit: Getty Images).