By Martina Purdy BBC Northern Ireland political correspondent

Peter Hain arrived in Northern Ireland with perhaps rather more baggage than any of his predecessors. Metaphorically speaking, that is.

In fact, he was described at the time as "the most partisan secretary of state ever appointed" and was quickly on the defensive about his record on Northern Ireland.

Mr Hain insisted he could act as "an honest broker" despite his past, which included involvement throughout the 1970s and 1980s in the "Time to Go" movement urging British withdrawal from Northern Ireland.

While warning the onus was on him to reassure unionists, unionist politicians appeared willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.

"Certainly Mr Hain is more high profile than Mr Murphy"

However, he enjoyed a short honeymoon. It was perhaps Mr Hain's attempts to reassure unionists that led him to make a decision that infuriated republicans.

Hain was barely in office one month when he suspended the early release license of Shankill bomber Sean Kelly, indicating he had become reinvolved in terrorism.

That certainly reassured unionists, but as soon as he heard, Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams was on the phone to the secretary of state complaining bitterly that Kelly, who had enjoyed early release under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement, had been jailed.

The result was that the Kelly case was drawn into the negotiations around the IRA's farewell statement on 31 July, 2005, and he was released on the eve of the statement. The reversal left unionists outraged.

Unionist ire was fanned when around the same time, a west Belfast Orange Order parade was re-routed, with accompanying violence.

This was another source of aggravation for Hain, who was no doubt determined to show his political masters that he could keep Northern Ireland stable.

Sinn Fein hackles were also raised earlier this year when the secretary of state and the Irish foreign minister proposed round-table talks at Stormont - with Sinn Fein coming in only after the DUP had left

Another difficulty has been the so-called "on-the-run" legislation, which was promised before Hain even arrived.

He had to take the flak however, as is a key function of being secretary of state.

The outrage of the unionists and others was again replaced by republican anger. Sinn Fein withdrew its support for the legislation, claiming it was because the government had included in the legislation an amnesty for members of the security forces who had acted illegally.

Sinn Fein hackles were also raised earlier this year when the secretary of state and the Irish foreign minister proposed round-table talks at Stormont - with Sinn Fein coming in only after the DUP had left. This was to accommodate the DUP, but it infuriated republicans.

One year into Hain's appointment, however, and Gerry Adams remains diplomatic about his performance.

Mr Adams declined to comment on the subject, adding only: "These political representatives come and go. None of them will ever govern in the interests of the people here, even if they are benign or well-intentioned.

"The best people to govern in Ireland are people who live here and have a mandate from people here."

'Seven-council model'

SDLP leader Mark Durkan, however, had no qualms about criticising the British minister, complaining that he seemed more intent on pleasing the DUP than nationalists or republicans.

Mr Durkan speculated this was because he was perhaps trying to bend over backwards to show he was not biased.

"Too often he appears only to have eyes for the DUP's mandate. He's constantly flattering the DUP's mandate," said Mr Durkan.

The DUP reject this claim - but have complained that the secretary of state has followed the wishes of Sinn Fein in pressing on with the seven-council model, which is opposed by all the other main parties.

The DUP also regards the Sean Kelly affair as a black mark - but the DUP's Maurice Morrow suggested Hain's record was a mixed bag.

Mr Hain and Dermot Ahern proposed round-table talks

He praised Mr Hain as both affable and a good listener, but claimed he should be doing more to bring about "meaningful devolution".

As for the Ulster Unionist leader, Sir Reg Empey did not complain about him being "too green" - but rather "too quick to ignore the views of local politicians".

He compared him unfavourably to his predecessor. "Peter Hain is not the sort of consensus politician that Paul Murphy was before him."

Certainly Mr Hain is more high profile than Mr Murphy - but he is also seen as tougher on local spending and much less sympathetic on the issue of assembly members' salaries.

One veteran observer described him as "Gordon Brown's hatchet man".

It is no secret the chancellor and the Treasury wants Northern Ireland to pay more through water charges and rates.

The same observer was rather complimentary, however, about Hain's ability to shine in a grim situation where the secretary of state is a "bit player" to the real decision-maker, the prime minister: "He's made a good fist out of a terrible job."