State Papers: What we learned, from Ahern’s lobbying of Blair over Sellafield to ‘distress’ at Dublin Zoo over death of loaned panda
Documents released from 1995 up to 2005 touch on everything from paramilitaries to pandas
State Papers
Martin McAleese provided buses for loyalists as part of contacts
Paramilitaries travelled to social event in mini-buses after checking for ‘bugs and bombs’
Censoring Sinn Féin Christmas card ‘a step too far’, NI officials told after staff complaints
Some social security workers ‘offended’ by card from local Sinn Féin office thanking them for their work
Blair rejected inquiry into killing of loyalist terrorist Billy Wright amid prison claims
Official inquiry in 2010 found no collusion between republicans and security forces
Bertie Ahern opposed ethics bill establishing Sipo when it was proposed, records show
Legislation proposed in 1990s to address concerns over ministerial conduct after controversies
Bertie Ahern lobbied Tony Blair for more information on Sellafield security amid concerns
Risk of radioactive release ‘greatly magnified’ since September 11th and Ireland requested emergency planning be shared
DUP sent ‘particularly narrow-minded bunch’ to cross-border young politicians’ gathering
Hardliners placed political pamphlets on chairs and walked out of Dick Spring speech
WT Cosgrave wrote of ‘highest esteem’ for Mussolini as he tried to save Franciscan garden
Fascist dictator’s Roman revival plans involved a new road through St Isidore’s
Tackle sectarianism by making subject sexy, minister told
‘Wide and complex’ problem could be approached by tying in sports and entertainment, groups suggested
Irish-language courts in North could be ‘open to abuse’, PSNI feared
Giving ‘preferred language’ option would slow down proceedings and potentially lead to challenges, senior officer said
Unionist legal challenge to Anglo-Irish Agreement sparked panic in Dublin and London
McGimpsey brothers claimed treaty was unconstitutional under Articles 2 and 3 of Irish constitution
John Major’s ‘politically inept’ block of Gerry Adams trip to London handed SF ‘propaganda coup’
DFA official said move would ‘confirm Irish prejudices’ about British legal approach
UK foreign minister called for earlier end to ‘counterproductive’ Sinn Féin broadcast ban
Douglas Hurd, who had introduced restrictions himself, felt six-year ban was ‘object of some derision’
Freedom of Information law would cause European sources to dry up, officials feared
Access to internal European Commission documents helped State shape its position
Slow progress a feature of North’s early powersharing that endures to this day
Executive struggled under weight of paperwork and protracted decision-making process
NI department was advised from London on how to present its response to Chernobyl radiation in food chain
Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland told to ‘emphasise that the food chain was safeguarded in 1986’
British officials reluctant to share Dublin-Monaghan information over resource concerns
‘High degree of resistance’ to searches as late as 2005 amid scepticism over finding new material
PSNI dismissed claims loyalist Jim ‘Doris Day’ Gray was informant
Police told officials death had been ‘settling of personal scores’ by ‘some of his many enemies’
British army morale at ‘low ebb’ in Crossmaglen months before ceasefire
Barracks required construction work to boost security and lack of heavy casualties was ‘due to luck’
UK foreign minister called for earlier end to ‘counterproductive’ Sinn Féin broadcast ban
Douglas Hurd, who had introduced restrictions himself, felt six-year ban was ‘object of some derision’
Charles Haughey ‘very disturbed’ over gun allegedly put to man’s neck on Carlingford Lough
Several instances where leisure boats on the disputed territory were approached by British patrols in the 1990s
Not enough gardaí at Lansdowne Road to prevent riot at abandoned Ireland-England 1995 match
Lack of staffing, planning and proper segregation of English fans - some of whom had far right links - highlighted to cabinet
Charles plan for ‘opulent’ yacht visit to Galway Bay and Cork in 1996 annoyed Irish side
Why can’t the prince just fly in by plane to one of the regional airports, asked John Bruton
Overcrowding at University Hospital Limerick a serious issue 45 years ago
Special report highlighted patient deaths and issues with ‘bed-blocking’
Irish presence at second World War event not in conflict with neutrality - officials
Francois Mitterand invited leaders to ceremony attended by other neutral states - and even Germany
Opus Dei worried high-ranking members would be revealed after Fr Brendan Smyth scandal
Senior office holders faced questions over whether they belonged to conservative Catholic institution
Haughey not happy with quality of Pearse and Wolfe Tone portraits in Government Buildings
Taoiseach critical of art and asked if they could be ‘re-executed’ by other artists
Irish Embassy spent thousands on 1994 World Cup tickets to prevent ‘riotous situation’
British travel agent went bust in June 1994, leaving many travelling fans without their allocation
Mary Robinson’s Pinochet handshake showed era of uncritical coverage was over, official said
President met former Chilean dictator on controversial 1995 South American tour
Officials feared Irish women travelling for abortion could be prosecuted on return
In wake of X case and 1992 referendum, fresh restrictions - including injunctions on travel - caused concern
Republican no-go areas for Protestants in rural Northern Ireland, loyalists claimed
Tensions in 2002 worse than any time since 1969, loyalist representatives told Bertie Ahern
Northern nationalists increasingly ‘anti-British’ rather than ‘anti-unionist’ by 1980s
Security action by Thatcher likely to alienate nationalists more, senior official warned Garret Fitzgerald
Concern over UK media coverage after vandalism at Limerick Jewish cemetery
Attack in 1995 saw swastika painted on cemetery gate shortly after visit to city by Israeli ambassador
Dublin Zoo ‘distressed’ as panda’s death on return to China linked in report to Irish stay
Ming Ming and Ping Ping drew 400,000 visitors over 100-day visit in 1986 – but Chinese officials declined Late Late appearance
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