Ms Brid Rodgers of the SDLP has described the leaking of confidential memoranda about her private conversations as "disgraceful, dishonourable and reckless". Her private conversation with a Department of Foreign Affairs official was published in two newspapers yesterday. However, she would make no comment on the element of the document which quoted her as complaining that a "triumvirate" of the Clonard Monastery priest, the Rev Alex Reid, the Irish News owner, Mr Jim Fitzpatrick, and Prof McAleese were "promoting a new nationalist consensus which owes more to Sinn Fein than the SDLP".
Ms Rodgers, whose purported private conversation with Ms Dympna Hayes of the Department of Foreign Affairs was published in yesterday's Sunday Tribune and Sunday Business Post, would not confirm or deny the report.
"My only response is, and will remain to be, `no comment'," she said. "I do, however, wish to express my very deep concern that the necessary and excellent work which has been, and continues to be, carried out by officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs is being seriously undermined by the disgraceful, dishonourable and reckless leaking of private papers."
The Sinn Fein president, Mr Gerry Adams, issued a strong attack on Mr John Bruton. He was responding to the Fine Gael leader's criticism of him for endorsing Ms McAleese for the Presidency.
Mr Adams said that those "involved in creating and sustaining this controversy around the presidential election are seeking to create and whip up anti-nationalist and anti-Northern feeling in the South to advance a narrow party-political and partitionist agenda.
"It is absolutely reprehensible, though not surprising, that a former Taoiseach, Mr Bruton, is leading the charge on these matters," he said.
The Rostrevor branch of the SDLP declared that Prof McAleese is a party supporter. It was replying to criticism that she had failed to back the local SDLP candidate, Mr Eddie McGrady, in the Westminster election in May and that she might be more sympathetic to Sinn Fein than the SDLP.
Mr Brian Mulligan, chairman of Rostrevor SDLP, said Ms McAleese had explained at a meeting of party activists that she could not play a public role in Mr McGrady's campaign because of her role as pro vice-chancellor at Queen's University, Belfast.
Father Reid's superior, the Rev Brendan Callanan, and Mr Fitzpatrick, in separate statements, defended Ms McAleese, stating that she was implacably opposed to violence, and committed to the peace process.
Mr Fitzpatrick, chairman and chief executive of the Irish News, said the Redemptorist Peace Mission was established to facilitate dialogue between the two communities in Northern Ireland.
"This was a genuine and sincere initiative and it is both hurtful and malicious to suggest any subversive motivation by any of the individuals involved.
"Professor McAleese is an honourable and trusting individual who is totally committed to peace."
Father Brendan Callanan, provincial superior of Father Reid's order, the Redemptorists, said that Prof McAleese and Mr Fitzpatrick were invited to participate in the Peace Mission "precisely because" they abhorred "violence in all its forms".
