Past and present Sunday Independent editors clash over Hume-Adams legacy

Two editors of Ireland’s biggest selling broadsheet newspaper have clashed over the Hume-Adams talks.
By The Newsroom
Published 17th Aug 2020, 07:22 BST
Updated 17th Aug 2020, 08:44 BST
Gerry Adams and John Hume. Their dialogue from the late 1980s attracted both praise and fierce criticism, and there is ongoing dispute as to its impact. The Sunday Independent was highly critical of the talks at the time but after Mr Hume's death it carried voices for and against the Hume-Adams processGerry Adams and John Hume. Their dialogue from the late 1980s attracted both praise and fierce criticism, and there is ongoing dispute as to its impact. The Sunday Independent was highly critical of the talks at the time but after Mr Hume's death it carried voices for and against the Hume-Adams process
Gerry Adams and John Hume. Their dialogue from the late 1980s attracted both praise and fierce criticism, and there is ongoing dispute as to its impact. The Sunday Independent was highly critical of the talks at the time but after Mr Hume's death it carried voices for and against the Hume-Adams process

A former editor of the Sunday Independent, Anne Harris, in yesterday’s edition defended the title’s past criticism of the initiative of the then Sinn Fein and SDLP leaders.

And the current editor, Alan English, responded to its recent coverage of the saga.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The Sunday Independent long had a reputation for being fiercely critical of the Provisional movement.

Last week, after Mr Hume’s death, it carried a range of contributors discussing whether the paper’s reportage of the controversial talks at the time had been appropriate.

Critics of Hume-Adams, including most unionists and a section of nationalism, said that it legitimised the IRA. Supporters said it paved the way for peace.

In a letter that was published yesterday Ms Harris criticised her successor Mr English for in his letter to readers the previous week.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Over the course of almost 1,000 words you cite anonymous critics calling [the then editor] Aengus Fanning’s scrutiny of the talks ‘poisonous, persistent and vicious’.”

She added: “This amounts to a cheap calumny of a man who cannot defend himself. Aengus Fanning is dead and, as you well know, you cannot libel the dead. Fair play calls for historical context.”

Ms Harris said: “Having been a reporter in Belfast in the early days of the Troubles, [Fanning] was alert to the dangers of engaging with the IRA while they continued killing people — which they did right through the Hume-Adams talks and even beyond the Good Friday Agreement.”

She added: “As the Sunday Independent critics of Hume-Adams correctly surmised, the sanitising of Sinn Féin wiped out the middle ground of Northern Ireland moderate nationalism ... and has distorted the moral compass of the Republic as seen in the results of the general election.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Mr English denied that he had tried to “‘sabotage’ Aengus Fanning’s work and reputation”.

He had on becoming editor “made a point of acknowledging the giant contribution he made over 28 years as editor of this newspaper”.

Mr English added: “My criticism last week was on the basis of him refusing Mark Durkan the right of reply to what was being written about John Hume.

“I stand over that — and the entirety of last week’s seven-page section on Hume. It included different viewpoints on the man and his legacy, as well as contrasting views on the Sunday Independent’s coverage in 1993-94.”

——— ———

A message from the Editor:

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers — and consequently the revenue we receive — we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.

Subscribe to newsletter.co.uk and enjoy unlimited access to the best Northern Ireland and UK news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit https://www.newsletter.co.uk/subscriptions now to sign up.

Our journalism costs money and we rely on advertising, print and digital revenues to help to support them. By supporting us, we are able to support you in providing trusted, fact-checked content for this website.

Alistair Bushe

Editor

Related topics:IRAJohn HumeNorthern IrelandSDLPSinn Fein