1970 cabinet papers from North reveal issues discussed by ministers
Tuesday, 2 January 2001 21:55
Cabinet papers from 1970 released by the Public Record Office in Belfast reveal some of the items discussed by Government ministers, such as the Falls Road curfew. The secret visit to the area afterwards by Dr Patrick Hillery, then Minister for External Affairs, angered Unionists.
The imposition of a curfew by the British Army on the Falls Road in Belfast for two days in July 1970 was among the events to figure in discussions by the Unionist government in Northern Ireland. Five civilians were killed by soldiers and 60 injured. In a widespread search over 100 firearms and 21,000 rounds of ammunition were recovered. This led to a breakdown in relations between the British Army and the Catholic community and it was also the era which saw the emergence of the Provisional IRA.
At the request of the Taoiseach, the Minister for External Affairs, Patrick Hillery, made a secret visit to the Falls. He said that the purpose was to try to relax tension in the North, but the visit angered unionists such as Brian Faulkner. More than 700 files were released by the Public record Office and only 49 were fully closed. However, they do not shed any new light on the issue of the arms trial in Dublin.
- News At One: John MacAleese from RTE covered the big parade on the 12th of July in 1970
- News At One: Dr Eamon Phoenix, Author of Northern Nationalism and a History lecturer, gives a flavour of what was happening on the ground
- 9.00 News: Joe Little, Social Affairs Correspondent, reports on the findings from the secret papers
- 9.00 News: Michael Fisher reports on the secret visit to the area in 1970 by Dr Patrick Hillery, then Minister for External Affairs
- 6.01 News: Joe Little, Social Affairs Correspondent, has been sifting through the secret papers for tonight's close-up report
- 6.01 News: Michael Fisher reports on the secret visit to the area in 1970 by Dr Patrick Hillery, then Minister for External Affairs
- 1.00 News: Michael Fisher reports on the contents of the released papers
