I agree with your sentiments Keith, the SDLP are now a minority party, Sinn Fein speak for Nationalists and republicans.

Sinn Fein never openly supported violence, they took the conventional political route from 1986, I think you will agree that a lot happened over there after that date much of it involved Sinn Fein members being charged with terrorist activity, so their success wasn't as a result of their 1986 approach.

Direct Rule came in 1972, the Civil Rights movement in the North of Ireland was all but dead by that stage. British public opinion didn't come into it, there was never a referendum held. American pressure of Britain's abuse of Human Rights such as the torture of political suspects in 1971 "The Hooded Men" something they were later found guilty of in a European Court, also played a part.

I do feel the military campaign by the Provisionals brought about change. Britain was well aware the device used in London in February 1996 had siblings and the panic calls from London to an Irish government official requesting a meeting with Provisional representatives the next day proved that. It will always remain a bone of contention among senior members of the movement, fortunately a certain will known individual got his way. That was the day Keith that changed the political situation.