THE damage done to the standing of the RUC at Drumcree was "of enormous proportions" and must be redressed, according to the British Labour Party spokeswoman on Northern Ireland.
Speaking yesterday in Dublin during a two day series of discussions with Irish politicians, Dr Mo Mowlam said that people in Britain had failed to appreciate the depth of anger felt in this country in the wake of the Garvaghy Road incident.
She told journalists that the Northern talks process was witnessing the "last throw of the dice", and she asked why the unionist parties could not put an initiative on the table.
Describing the RUC as being "caught between a rock and a bar place" at Drumcree, she said her party was not arguing that operational decisions be taken from the police. However, their operation - "must be bedded in a political framework".
It would take "a hell of a long time" for the force to rehabilitate itself with the nationalist community and the damage done at Drumcree was extremely regrettable given the improved relations built over the past few years.
Dr Mowlam said she hoped that the successor to Sir Hugh Annesley, the outgoing RUC Chief Constable, would make a difference. She also wished that the internal review of procedure being conducted by the police would be "radical".
Given rising tensions in Derry over the forthcoming Apprentice Boys parade, Dr Mowlam said that once an RUC decision is made on how to handle the march, it must be adhered to. The best possible outcome would be a locally negotiated compromise.
It was "stunning" that no action had been taken in the aftermath of last year's event in Drumcree. Labour would like the proposed independent review commission to look at the possibility of a code of practice and guidelines on routing that were fair and consistent.
Insisting that her party leader, Mr Tony Blair, does care about the Irish question, she said he was "up to speed" on the situation. Labour would adhere to its bi-partisan approach on Northern Ireland on the basis that it is "helpful to the process and is built on principle".
Referring to the talks process, she took the view that "the seven weeks of wrangling is a necessary pain barrier that we need to go through". While it was "depressing" that the initial phase of the talks, dealing with rules and procedures, has taken so long, parties were still there "with their feet under the table".
"But I would be worried by Monday if we don't have something to look forward to in September."
If progress is made and there is a move to substantive talks, her party would like to see the issue of the decommissioning of paramilitary weapons dealt with in parallel to negotiations.
Dr Mowlam did not meet Sinn Fein representatives. Her party policy was that of the Government, she said. Sinn Fein should be allowed into all party talks - if the IRA renewed its ceasefire.