The Politics of the Greatest Atrocity

The Humanising of David Trimble.  By Fionnuala O Connor

If the road towards peace becomes straighter and smoother in time, no one looking back can ignore how tragedy reshaped this summer. Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble and Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams look strengthened by the outcome of Omagh. The psychology is simpler than the politics: one should feed the other. But an altered David Trimble may still need more than can be given at this point, by the organisation Gerry Adams has helped change in tune with himself and the community he comes from.