Unionists quit talks as killing returns to streets

Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble pledged: ``We are not closing the doors by any means.''

His party colleague, the Rev Martin Smyth, a grand master of the Orange Order, added: ``I don't believe we should be having the requiem mass for them (the peace talks) at this stage.''

However, with the understanding among observers in the province that the Rev Ian Paisley's Democratic Unionist Party and the United Kingdom Unionist Party also planned to boycott the talks ahead of a resolution in Portadown, the outlook was gloomy.

The escalation came as a Scottish-born taxi driver was murdered outside Lurgan. Mr Michael McGoldrick, 31, a Roman Catholic, who had moved to the province from Glasgow six years ago, was found shot in the head in his car early yesterday.

His family issued a statement condemning politicians for inflaming the political situation in ``fire and brimstone'' speeches. ``Their loose talk has cost this young fellow his life,'' they said. ``We don't want any retaliation. They just shot an innocent fellow doing a night's work.''

No organisation had claimed responsibility for the killing of Mr McGoldrick, who was brought up in Queen Elizabeth Square in the Gorbals.

His death has fuelled fears in Ulster's Catholic community that the loyalist ceasefire is on the brink of crumbling.

Mr McGoldrick had worked as a psychiatric nurse in Glasgow before moving to Northern Ireland where he worked as a part-

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time taxi driver while studying at Queens College in Belfast. He graduated on Friday and had hoped to begin a new career as a teacher. He is survived by his wife, Sadie, who is expecting a child in October, and seven-year-old daughter Emma.

The killing came as loyalists went on the rampage in Portadown, attacking police, burning vehicles, and looting shops in support of Orangemen in the second day of their stand-off with police at Drumcree parish church.

Up to four families were forced out of their homes in north Belfast after being taunted by local youths. The families involved were all Catholic, living in a predominantly Protestant street.

Late last night vans and trailers appeared in the street to collect belongings and furniture as the families got out.

The Orangemen settled in at Drumcree church after being refused permission to march back to Portadown through a Catholic area.

Sources close to the peace process last night insisted the talks would continue today.

Meanwhile, Unionist sources said the American chairman of the talks, former senator George Mitchell, would be told of the parties' intentions at the start of today's session.

One source said: ``We will be telling Mr Mitchell that we think we would be better employed at the moment in other parts of Northern Ireland, trying to defuse the present dangerous situation.''

Mr Trimble left an impression that the latest developments were not a threat to the peace process, assuming the present crisis was ``resolved in a satisfactory manner''.

Mr Trimble, MP for Upper Bann, who had been at the barricades in Portadown yesterday, said: ``It would be considered wrong to be going and continuing the talks as though nothing was happening to the community.

``And, in any event, we have to be out on the ground in this situation. If I were to tell my constituents here in Portadown that I had slipped off to Stormont to have talks while representatives of this Government were beating them into the ground, they would have a very short response.''

Mr Smyth, MP for Belfast South, told Channel 4 News his party hoped to meet the Prime Minister today. Mr Smyth urged march supporters to refrain from violence.

``Scenes of violence, in my judgment, are counter-productive, because they are giving the impression that we are just resorting to the same tactics as the IRA.

``Having said that, the tragedy is that Government obviously doesn't listen to the peaceful ballot, but it does pay attention to violence,'' said Mr Smyth.

Meanwhile, tension and unrest continued in Northern Ireland.

Police arrested a man with a crossbow near Portadown as he tried to hijack a vehicle, and soon afterwards a store of petrol bombs was seized nearby.

The RUC confirmed plastic baton rounds had been fired during clashes with demonstrators in Belfast's Sandy Row area. There were also reports of a policeman being injured in that confrontation.

A spokesman said there were reports also of sporadic trouble throughout the city as demonstrations continued against the RUC action in Portadown.

But last night, the focal point of the stand-off at Drumcree was generally peaceful.

As darkness fell, Orange Order members who had been at the roadblock all day were replaced by members of lodges from different parts of the province. The demonstrators maintained a constant drumbeat.

To underline support for the continuing protests, Orange Order sympathisers lit a series of bonfires throughout Northern Ireland.

The RUC said up to 70 roads in the province had been blocked by demonstrators, including routes to ferry ports serving Irish Sea sailings to Britain.

Motorists were urged to avoid all but ``absolutely essential'' journeys as the number of demonstrations escalated.

The main approach routes to Belfast's international airport at Aldergrove, County Antrim, were blocked, and cross-border rail services were affected, with up to 300 passengers stranded at one point after a series of bomb scares.

Mr McGoldrick's murder also fuelled fears that the loyalist ceasefire was cracking. Mr Andrew Hunter, chairman of the Tory backbench Northern Ireland Committee, told Channel 4 News: ``Tension has been increasing.

``There has been increasing frustration among many of the loyalist paramilitaries that the IRA has resumed its violence on the mainland, and continues operations in the province.

``There is a reaction against this.''

He added: ``In the light of increasing tension and a deteriorating security situation, the Unionists' withdrawal (from talks) is no surprise.

``I still think the negotiations are worth pursuing. But the overall climate has to be right, and there has to be confidence.''

Shadow Northern Ireland secretary Dr Marjorie Mowlam told the programme: ``Everybody knew the marching season would be a difficult time.

``I think everybody must hold their nerve, do what they can to support the police, who are doing a difficult job, and remember that the bottom line is negotiation.''

q Freed Paratrooper Lee Clegg is to lodge a fresh appeal against his life sentence with Northern Ireland Secretary Sir Patrick Mayhew this week.

Clegg, 27, a PT instructor at the Parachute Regiment training centre at Catterick, North Yorkshire, was jailed for the shooting of Belfast joyrider Karen Reilly six years ago.

He was released on licence last July following a massive public campaign, but has not been acquitted. His release set off large-scale riots across the province.

Clegg's solicitor, Mr Simon McKay, is to ask Sir Patrick to refer the case back to the Court of Appeal in Northern Ireland.