Newly released Irish Government Archives claims that members of the Royal Ulster Police, disgruntled with members of the British government, committed a series of large-scale attacks during and after the enactment of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement in Northern Ireland. was responsible for the leak.
Irish Foreign Office officials specializing in justice and security prepared a report and list of leaks in October 2002. These included attempts to undermine the IRA-linked party, Sinn Féin, and expose Northern Ireland's position at the time. Secretary Mo Mowlam.
In a reminder of the fragile situation following the historic peace agreement, the report revealed that “disgruntled Special Branch officials in Northern Ireland” had been accused of a series of publications about the IRA aimed at damaging Sinn Féin. He explained how he was condemned by the British government. In the 2001 Northern Ireland General Election.
Details of an IRA intelligence database containing the names of key Conservative Party politicians, then known as the 'hit list', were also passed on to the BBC in April 2002, and the press note goes on to say that this was 'leaked a few days later. There was,” he continued. A senior IRA commander claimed in the Sunday Telegraph that he bought a Russian special forces rifle in Moscow last year.
The Special Branch leak is also said to be linked to a 2002 IRA infiltration at RUC headquarters in Castlereagh, east Belfast.
Other leaks included the disclosure in February 1998 of documents relating to preparations for the Drumcree Orange Order March of 6 July 1997. The march was marred by standoffs and clashes as nationalists objected to the march along Garvagie Road in Portadown.
The strategy document claims that Mowlam, who had publicly expressed his desire for a negotiated solution to the 1997 parade, would “find the lowest common denominator to put the orange foot on Garvagie Road”. It was shown that.
In 1997, large numbers of security forces were sent to the area to allow the march to proceed. The incident heightened tensions and sparked a wave of violence.
Elsewhere in the newly released Irish archives, a group of former paramilitary soldiers were given jobs to help them get jobs and reintegrate into society, months after being released from prison in 1998 following the Good Friday Agreement. Documents have been revealed showing how the British government was approached.
Minister for Northern Ireland Adam Ingram said society was “not yet at the point where all the shutters are up” and feared ex-prisoners could end up educating the victims' children. and resisted pressure.
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Details have been revealed of the embarrassing incident in which part of a moon rock given to the President of Ireland by NASA after the Apollo missions and stored at Dunsink Observatory was destroyed in a fire in 1977.
And in 2002, as the Queen celebrated her Golden Jubilee, pro-Union ministers in the Stormont government rejected suggestions that pub opening hours could be extended. Correspondence shows that Northern Ireland's Lord Lieutenants – the Queen's agents – are also not seeking a more celebratory license time.
“Mrs. Carswell in particular finds it difficult for lieutenants to encourage such activities without appearing political,” one of the newly released emails states. Ta.
