Previously confidential state papers have revealed a tense diplomatic encounter in which former Prime Minister Sir John Major was "shouted at" by an Irish Justice Minister during a dispute over security cooperation in Northern Ireland.
A Heated Exchange in London
The incident occurred during a meeting in London in September 1992, a period marked by significant paramilitary violence during the Troubles. The documents, released from the National Archives of Ireland, detail a gathering involving Prime Minister John Major, Northern Ireland Secretary Sir Peter Mayhew, Taoiseach Albert Reynolds, and Irish Justice Minister Padraig Flynn.
Prior to the wider meeting, Major had held a private discussion with Reynolds, where the Prime Minister contended that security cooperation between the UK and Ireland was better than ever. However, this optimistic assessment was directly challenged when Ministers Flynn and Mayhew joined the leaders.
Flynn's Catalogue of Complaints
Justice Minister Flynn, a member of the Fianna Fáil party, raised a series of pointed security concerns. He argued that cooperation had decreased due to a break in meetings of the Anglo-Irish Inter-Governmental Conference.
His specific grievances included:
- The closure of cross-border roads.
- The rebuilding of a British military watchtower near Cloghogue school.
- A British preference for mobile patrols over permanent vehicle checkpoints.
Flynn expressed frustration that talks with Northern Ireland political parties were "sniffing around the mulberry bush" and "going nowhere." He singled out DUP leader Ian Paisley, who he said absented himself but reserved the right to return solely to insist on a change to the Irish Constitution's territorial claim over the island.
Major's Commons-Style Response and Constitutional Tensions
The Irish minister also warned against "double speak," stating it was unhelpful when the UK government suggested the Irish Constitution must be changed, as it gave comfort to unionists. He sought a firm government-to-government foundation on the constitutional issue.
In response, Sir Peter Mayhew said his officials had been "tied up" with party talks but assured there "will be no lack of co-operation." Both Mayhew and Major dismissed the idea that the UK government had significant influence over unionist politicians, with Major noting Flynn may believe "we have more control over the Unionists than we have."
Attempting to defuse the row, John Major made light of being confronted. "I don't mind being shouted at – it is quite like the House of Commons," he remarked. He urged Flynn not to leave with suspicions, stating, "Let us agree we are going to do this."
Showing the meeting ended in reasonably good humour, Major concluded by saying they would now "go meet the reptiles" – a reference to the press waiting outside.
The declassified note, recorded by an Irish civil servant and not intended as a verbatim transcript, is contained in the file labelled 2023/50/204 in the National Archives of Ireland.
