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IRA wanted to freeze Sinn Fein out of talks with British about ending Troubles
Newly released paper said the IRA leadership s least favoured approach to talks was to involve Sinn Fein figures
Gerry Adams with Martin McGuinness (Image: PA)
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UVF wanted UDA excluded from peace talks with IRA, state papers reveal
The loyalist grouping claimed its rival would derail the process as it was corrupt and riddled with informers
A bullet riddled welcome to Northern Ireland sign on the border between Derrylin, Co Fermanagh and Ballyconnell, Co Cavan (Image: David Young/PA Wire)
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peace talks
The IRA wanted to freeze Sinn Fein out of backchannel talks with Brits about ending the Troubles, state papers reveal
David Young
Updated: 27 Dec 2020, 18:42
THE IRA wanted to freeze Sinn Fein out of proposed backchannel talks with the Brits about ending the Troubles, it can now be revealed.
An internal Irish government communique reported that the IRA Army Council informed two prison chaplains in spring 1990 that it was prepared to enter exploratory discussions with the UK.
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Reverend Monsignor John Murphy
But the newly released paper said the IRA leadership’s least favoured approach to talks was to involve Sinn Fein figures.
The IRA did not want Sinn Fein involved in proposed back channel talks with the British about ending the Troubles.
The message from a senior Irish official to colleagues in the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has been newly-released by the National Archives under the 30-year rule.
The IRA s Army Council told two prison chaplains in the spring of 1990 that it was prepared to enter exploratory talks with the UK, according to the internal Irish government communique.
The two chaplains at the Maze prison near Lisburn, Rev Will Murphy and Fr John Murphy, had been trying to encourage prisoners from both sides to move away from violence.