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![]() Friday, January 9, 1998 Published at 23:11 GMT ![]() ![]() ![]() UK ![]() Minister with a mission ![]()
So said Britain's Northern Ireland Secretary faced with growing criticism at her decision to visit Maze prisoners - people convicted of serious crimes, including murder.
No one can deny Mo Mowlam is courageous. But her initiative reflects how close the peace process is to breaking down.
It also shows her personal - and cynics might say naive - determination to do all she can to prevent another return to the cycle of violence in Ulster.
Majorie Mowlam describes herself as a "tough old boot." She has made great strides in the past eight months in the peace process. Bringing David Trimble and Gerry Adams into the same building let alone the same room was a feat in itself.
Although she has never sought to make an issue of her health, she was forced to reveal she was receiving chemotherapy, radiotherapy and steroid treatment after several British tabloids made jibes about her increase in weight.
Her hair had fallen out and she has to wear a wig, though her natural blonde locks are gradually growing back.
"It's very disarming," said one Belfast politician. "When you're in a strenuous meeting with her and you're about to tackle her hard and she suddenly takes off the wig. It's extremely difficult to be tough on a lady who is bald."
Ms Mowlam has a reputation for being direct, unpretentious, cheerful in the face of seemingly insurmountable problems and - most important in a land so full of sectarian hatred - gregarious. Many in Ireland, including Ken Maginnis, deputy leader of the Ulster Unionists, have described her as " a good mixer".
Loyal to her leaders
Majorie Mowlam was born 47 years ago in Watford, north of London. After graduating from Durham University in England and completing a a PhD in political science at Iowa University, she returned to Britain in 1979.
Her willingness to listen to all sides has been offset by her sometimes frosty relations with senior civil servants.
Summer of discontent
She once said residents' groups opposed to Orange parades were "independent" despite evidence that they had been infiltrated by the IRA. She has also had to retract a statement suggesting peace talks could go ahead with unionist participation.
Last year unionist attacks on her meetings with Sinn Fein were balanced with nationalist condemnation of her handling of the Orange marches.
Thousands of police were ordered at one point in the demonstration to push a Protestant march through a Catholic area. A leaked document later seemed to reveal that Ms Mowlam had planned such a push all along, even though she had insisted she had an open mind.
Ms Mowlam recently described herself as pragmatic with a deep-rooted sense of justice. "I like to see things get done," she said.
" It's not that I need to be loved, or belong - I just say 'OK, if this is what we want to achieve, this is what we've got to do.'"
By deciding to visit to the Maze prison, she has shown she is ready to take risks to try to preserve the fragile peace process in Northern Ireland.
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