2 Codewords and Coffee

General Sir John Wilsey in a BBC interview with me in January 1993, where he stepped onto a banana skin, saying the army was ‘certainly not ashamed’ after its agent Brian Nelson was jailed. (Courtesy

of Marty Johnston)

August 1994, the IRA ceasefire – one of those days when you run with the news and don’t get tired.

January 1998, just days after the murder of Billy Wright inside the jail, the media was given rare access to the wings of the Maze Prison. It was a chance to speak with the loyalist and IRA leaderships – with Johnny Adair (top) on one wing and Padraic Wilson (bottom, far right) on another.

(Courtesy of BBC Newsline)

The choreographed steps of negotiations and peace-building. November 1999, a unionist source gave me the words the IRA would speak the next day. It was perfect guidance and a news exclusive on what would follow in a statement from P. O’Neill.

Statements and scribbled notes of history from some of my many meetings with the P. O’Neills.

Breaking news in a borrowed jacket and tie – discussing the latest twist in the ‘Stakeknife’ story with Noel Thompson. (Courtesy of BBC Newsline)

Face to balaclava – long into the peace, an interview with the UVF.