Sinn Fein confirms DUP contacts

Gerry Kelly confirmed there were secret contacts

There were "back channels'' between Sinn Fein and the DUP during the peace process, Gerry Kelly has said.

The DUP, however, has persistently denied any secret contact.

Mr Kelly was responding to a BBC report in which Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said one such back-channel was "very important to the process."

He said it was "very logical to have a number of different lines of communication... in all sorts of groupings".

"That is a natural process in any negotiation process, whether it's in South Africa, here or anywhere else."

Mr Ahern said: "At the time we were trying to build up confidence, understanding and relationships with a political party which we did not have good communications with."