Can Arlene’s applause usher in new mood during talks?
ON an extraordinary day in Derry, one occasion stood out. As DUP leader Arlene Foster took her seat inside St Columba’s church, mourners clapped in a spontaneous gesture of appreciation. In many places, a politician at the funeral of a ministerial colleague would be expected, rather than newsworthy. During the Troubles, and even in the fledgling years of the peace process, it would have been unthinkable for the leader of the main unionist party to pay respects to a former IRA commander. In Mrs Foster’s case, the symbolism of her attendance at Martin Mcguinness’ funeral was all the more powerful, given her late father survived an IRA murder bid and a Provo bomb exploded on her school bus. Her decision was always going to anger some – a number of victims of IRA violence have condemned it. But other IRA victims had urged her to attend. President Clinton singled her out as he began his eulogy. He said: “I want to say a special word of appreciation to Mrs Foster for being here because I know and most people in this church know that your life has been marked in painful ways by the Troubles.” Mrs Foster was joined at the service by former first minister and DUP leader Peter Robinson. Whether Thursday’s events in St Columba’s will have any impact on that narrative remains to be seen. Talks resume today today with only days left to form a new Executive. Hopes of a deal remain slim. However, similarly bleak prognoses have been confounded ahead of other historic agreements. As the funeral came to a close Mrs Foster and Sinn Fein’s Michelle O’neill shook hands. A service that started with a gesture of appreciation at the DUP leader’s attendance, had ended with another.