Because if he did, he would hear what most people articulate up and down the Falls: that the Catholics hold out more hope for peace than the Protestants."Everyone was very disappointed by what happened, but it will move on - it has to move on," said Mr Malone. "People generally believe that there will be a solution."I know the Unionists have a problem with decommissioning and with sitting down with people that they describe as terrorists But Nelson Mandela was a terrorist. People have to embrace democracy and move on."It is a sentiment easier for some to grasp than others. In the Red Devil pub, a shrine to Manchester United, the manager, Jim Killyleagh, 31, is more concerned by loyalist decommissioning. Four weeks ago, on a Thursday night, two paramilitaries attempted to blow up his customers with a hand grenade."It was about 11.30pm," he said.

"They tried to get in through the side door, but that had been locked for a private function. They came round the front, but two customers were leaving and appear to have frightened them, so they turned around and threw the grenade at two other men outside another pub over the road."The victims, outside Caffreys, escaped with shrapnel wounds, but the incident has left a scar. "Now, whenever there is an up or down in the peace process, everyone thinks it could be an excuse for someone to have a pop," he said. "On Thursday night, after the process broke down, we noticed a fall in the number of customers we would usually have. I think people would prefer a solution."Farther down the road, polishing her step and wiping clean the painted brickwork outside her house, a middle-aged woman passes some mail to her elderly next-door neighbour, and they then discuss the peace process. They will not allow their names to be used, but they speak to each other with an old-fashioned formality."I think they should get rid of all the politicians and let the people get in that Assembly, don't you, Mrs?" says one."Absolutely right, Mrs," says the other "If this review fails, God knows where we'll be.

The main thing is that most people want peace, most people want this thing to succeed and what we believe is that eventually, if we get rid of these pig-headed politicians, it will. I think the other side think that, too."It would come as music to Mr Blair's ears at the end of his walk. But, more than the walking itself, perhaps it would encourage the Prime Minister to recommend to Northern Ireland's stubborn politicians the value of taking a walk in someone else's shoes.. Sir: I congratulate Gerry Adams and David Trimble on their principled stand over the last few weeks and their refusal to give in to the dark forces of pragmatism. Gerry Adams has bravely stuck to his guns in refusing to compromise on the letter of the Good Friday Agreement with respect to decomissioning.