THE president of Sinn Fein, Mr Gerry Adams, said that despite the Taoiseach's denial, he feared Mr Bruton had given up on the peace process and was about to close the door on Sinn Fein.
Speaking in Galway yesterday, Mr Adams said that while the peace process had temporarily collapsed he was not without hope. "It is important for everyone to remain focused on the fact that what we are attempting to do is very ambitious, as well as risky and dangerous..."
He told a Cairde Sinn Fein gathering in Carraroe that he was not made despondent by Sinn Fein's exclusion from talks. It would be involved but he could Not say when.
Republicans, he predicted, would in time be able to look back at their role in bringing peace about and could look forward to acceptance of the legitimacy of their position.
On Ms Veronica Guerin's murder, he said he did not take seriously a suggestion of a paramilitary involvement.