ABSTRACT
The immediate ending of violence that some had hoped would result from the DSD was not forthcoming. Whilst an Irish Independent opinion poll demonstrated that 97 per cent of people in the Republic believed that the IRA should now end the violence, the IRA's actions led many to question whether this was likely. The launching of three mortar attacks on Heathrow airport over 4 days in March 1994 seemed to signal a rejection of the terms of the DSD, although some hope was taken from the fact that the mortars failed to detonate. The announcement of a 3-day ceasefire by the IRA over Easter 1994 was not welcomed as a positive step by the two governments, a fact that perhaps reflected a feeling of exasperation and impatience in London and Dublin. This impatience was particularly evident in Dublin, which had placed great hopes on the DSD and had moved quickly to deal with questions and demands for clarifications from Sinn Féin. Reynolds was reported to be ‘dismayed’ and Dick Spring went on radio and TV to publicise the Irish unhappiness with the announcement of the time-limited cessation. ‘We have been working with the British Government in the context of the Downing Street Declaration to establish a permanent cessation of violence in Northern Ireland. That hasn't happened and it is disappointing’ (The Times, 1 April 1994). An Irish official went a little further stating, ‘To say we're disappointed is a huge understatement’ (The Independent, 1 April 1994).
