Secretary of State discusses victims with Tánaiste

Mr Paterson said he discussed a range of issues with the Irish Labour leader - a former member of the Official Sinn Féin-affiliated University of College Galway (UCG) Republican Club whilst a student in the 1970s - during the recent meetings.

SDLP MP Margaret Ritchie asked the Secretary of State whether he had had discussions with the Irish Government on joint steps to address the needs of victims. He replied that he had had a number of discussions with Mr Gilmore over recent months.

Mr Paterson said: “I have met with the Irish Foreign Minister twice in the past three months to discuss a range of issues, including dealing with the past.

“Responsibility for providing practical services and support to victims rests with the devolved administration. For its part, the UK Government are committed to considering what contribution they can make to dealing with the contentious legacy of the Troubles in a way that helps bring a measure of closure to victims and wider society.”

Last year Mr Gilmore was grilled on Irish radio about his past association with the ‘Official’ republican movement in the 1970s whilst the Official IRA was still creating victims of the Troubles in Northern Ireland.

Speaking about his political involvement at UCG he said he had canvassed with current Irish presidential hopeful Michael D. Higgins in 1973 for the Labour Party before Mr Gilmore “subsequently joined the Workers’ Party.”

“Was it Sinn Féin the Workers’ Party then or was it Official Sinn Féin then,” he was asked by RTÉ broadcaster Marian Finucane during the interview last autumn.

“No, I think it was in the process I think of becoming the Workers’ Party at that time. I can’t recall exactly the dates exactly,” he replied.

“Was it not Official Sinn Féin then?” asked Ms Finucane. “Not at that, ah, not at that time, I think,” the now Tánaiste had responded.

Asked if he was “a Sticky” in his day, Gilmore demurred but during his time at UCG (1972-75) it is clear that neither Sinn Féin the Workers Party nor the Workers’ Party existed - both being later incarnations of Official Sinn Féin to which the UCG Republican Club was then affiliated.