Jeffrey Donaldson and Martin McGuinness: Churchman reveals talks

Rev Good told BBC News NI’s Talkback: “It’s a story of how two people in particular saw that something had to be done whatever about the reservations of people within their parties.

“And I take my hat off to them,” he added.

Outlining how the talks began, he said: “We were talking to people we weren’t supposed to be talking to for decades.

“That had to be lifted to another level to try and facilitate an opportunity for people at a level where it had now become crucial.”

Asked how he felt when he heard the DUP publicly denying such meetings had taken place, Rev Good replied “that was for them and is for them to answer, not me”.

“My concern was for the greater good. And you see we all know that in every conflict, every war there comes a moment when there has to be a huge compromise and people have to step well beyond their comfort zones.

“And these two people were prepared to do that,” he added.

Pressed further about the denials he said if the media had got hold of the story “it couldn’t have continued”.