Sir John Major was 'shouted at' by the Irish justice minister during a 1992 meeting, according to newly declassified state papers. The then prime minister compared the encounter to being in the House of Commons, as Padraig Flynn raised concerns over security cooperation and the Northern Ireland peace process.
The meeting in London on 22 September 1992 involved Mr Major, Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Mayhew, and Taoiseach Albert Reynolds. Mr Flynn expressed alarm over an escalation in loyalist paramilitary violence, which he linked to a lack of meetings of the Anglo-Irish Inter-Governmental Conference. He also raised issues including the closure of cross-border roads and the rebuilding of a British military watchtower near Cloghogue school.
According to an Irish civil servant's record, Mr Flynn said he did not wish to 'intrude a discordant note' but contended that cooperation had decreased. Mr Mayhew responded that officials had been 'tied up' in talks with Northern Ireland political parties, while Mr Major quipped that those working 16-hour days would now work 24. The record shows Mr Major asking Mr Mayhew if he wanted to get his 'own back' on Mr Flynn, to which the Secretary replied he would not have wanted to 'not long ago'.
The discussions turned to the Irish Constitution's territorial claim over the whole island. Mr Flynn took issue with UK statements suggesting the constitution must change, and said he and his Fianna Fail party had been 'insulted' during party talks. Mr Major insisted on the sincerity of his government, saying: 'I don't mind being shouted at – it is quite like the House of Commons. Let us agree we are going to do this – but you must not go away with suspicions about us.'
The meeting ended with Mr Major saying they would now 'go meet the reptiles', a reference to the press waiting outside. The documents were released as part of the annual National Archives of Ireland publication under the 2023 file.
