John Major blocked Irish famine event over 'apology'
A typical rural Irish house in the 19th century
Éamon Phoenix
Former British Prime Minister John Major. Picture by Jeff Overs/BBC/PA Wire
Proposals to mark the 150th anniversary of the Great Famine with an ecumenical service in Liverpool to coincide with President Mary Robinson’s first visit to the UK were vetoed in 1996 by Prime Minister John Major.
Newly-released files show the service had been mooted for several years.
The possibility of a British event to mark the Famine was raised by Chris MacCabe from the Northern Ireland Office on August 15, 1994 in a note to officials.