No ulterior motive behind apology

One of the golden rules of politics is "never apologise" and so when it's broken, suspicions are raised.

What ulterior motive lay behind Tony Blair's humble TV statement over the Guildford Four and Maguire Seven?

Was it part of some secret political choreography?

By saying he was "very sorry" about these miscarriages of justice, what was he hoping to get in return?

Boring though it may seem for the conspiracy theorists, it appears there was no hidden agenda.

"This was simply a terrible wrong which had to be put right, and Mr Blair agreed to do it"
It certainly couldn't be regarded as a political stunt for his forthcoming re-election campaign. It's hardly likely to be a big talking point on the doorsteps.

Yes, it could be seen as a rare favour for the nationalist SDLP, which led the campaign for an apology.

The Irish government also pushed the issue, but apart from that, it's difficult to see any other political motive.

This was simply a terrible wrong which had to be put right, and Mr Blair agreed to do it.

Some unionists believe it's time for others to apologise. What they want to hear at the moment is paramilitary groups like the IRA saying "sorry" for 30 years of death and destruction.

A constitutional question has also been raised - should a politician be apologising for the mistakes of the judiciary?

Old wounds

The debate will continue. In the meantime, Mr Blair has to find some way of sorting out the current political mess in Northern Ireland.

His apology to the Guildford Four and Maguire Seven will not alter the current problems, but it may heal some old wounds, at a time when the peace process needs all the help it can get.

Last week's flurry of IRA statements prompted fears about a possible breakdown in the ceasefires.

The panic is now over, as it seems the IRA was only sabre-rattling.

But in Northern Ireland, peace is never taken for granted. That's another golden rule.

RELATED INTERNET LINKS
On This Day: Guildford Four released
On this Day: 'Maguire Seven arrests
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