Former Policing Board member acted as secret go-between
CRUCIAL talks which helped bring about the peace process took place in the home of a Londonderry businessman.
It has been revealed that Brendan Duddy, passed secret messages between the government and the IRA for 20 years.
The former Policing Board member's involvement in the peace process brought him into contact with MI5, MI6 and senior Republicans.
He has never spoken extensively about his role before, but in a documentary for BBC2, journalist Peter Taylor has persuaded him to do so.
Mr Duddy told the BBC: "The notion that big things happened in the Oval Office in Washington or in the Grand Hall of the Kremlin... actually it doesn't happen that way.
"It happens less formally and simply."
Award winning journalist Peter Taylor said the Londondery man's role was "absolutely critical".
Mr Taylor said: "He brought the IRA and the British government together for talks that ultimately led to the ceasefire of 1994.
"Without that ceasefire there would have been no Good Friday Agreement and no peace today.
"What is astonishing is that these talks took place in Brendan Duddy's house. It is really the story of an ordinary man in extraordinary circumstances."
Peter Taylor said those involved used to clean out the fire and go and make tea.
"It is a million miles away from the kind of circumstances you expect these historic events to take place in," said Mr Taylor.
Peter Taylor said Mr Duddy was prepared to take risks as he was "driven by the desire to end the conflict".
Peter Taylor's programme, The Secret Peacemaker, will be broadcast on BBC2 on March 26.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Belfast
Monday 13 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 4 C to 9 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 6 C to 9 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: North west
