Fiachra Ó Cionnaith

Crossmaglen security forces morale 'at low ebb' in 1994

A leading politician's reaction to plans for extensive construction work at Crossmaglen Barracks in south Armagh in April 1994 is contained within newly-released files at the National Archive.

State Papers • 30 Dec 25

Billy Wright, known as 'King Rat', was shot dead at the Maze Prison in Co Down on 27 December 1997

Billy Wright's father accused govt of 'selective justice'

The father of Billy Wright accused the Irish government of "indulging in selective justice" in 1999 after being told then-taoiseach Bertie Ahern would not meet him to discuss holding a public inquiry into the Loyalist Volunteer Force leader's murder.

State Papers • 30 Dec 25

The Edge and Bono of U2 perform on the Joshua Tree Tour at Nassau Coliseum in 1987

'Embarrassing situation' over limited U2 tickets in 1987

A telex sent from an Irish official based in Boston in April 1987, stating that a limit of ten complimentary tickets per U2 show in America, "puts us in an embarrassing situation" reveals the level of interest in the band's massively successful Joshua Tree tour there.

State Papers • 30 Dec 25

Fallout over 2003 publication of Stakeknife's identity

The fallout from the publication in the media in 2003 of agent Stakeknife's identity is discussed in documents newly released to the national archives.

State Papers • 30 Dec 25

15 February 1995; England supporters clash with Gardai in the West Stand where rioting broke out and forced the match to be abandoned. International Friendly, Republic of Ireland v England, Lansdowne Road, Dublin. Picture credit; Ray McManus / SPORTSFILE

5 things we learned from Day 3 of State Papers

We have reached the penultimate day of this year's State Paper release - and today carries a bit of a sporting theme. Two of today's main stories centre around the Republic of Ireland national team.

State Papers • 29 Dec 25

Police prepare to leave Stormont after a raid on the Sinn Fein office. A former messenger who once worked at the Government's main offices in Belfast has been arrested as part of a major police investigation into IRA intelligence gathering. * The man was

Tensions between govt and UK after 2002 Stormontgate raid

Tensions emerged between officials from the Irish and UK governments on Friday 4 October 2002 after PSNI officers raided Sinn Féin offices at the Northern Assembly in Stormont and arrested four members of the party.

State Papers • 29 Dec 25

PIRA laundered millions through NI construction sector

The Provisional IRA and other paramilitary groups were laundering tens of millions of pounds sterling every year through the construction sector in Northern Ireland in the final years before ceasefires were announced and peace talks took hold.

State Papers • 29 Dec 25

Harry Whelehan (R) with Eoghan Fitzsimons in 1994

AG felt FF ministers intended to mislead Dáil on Smyth

The attorney general in 1994 believed Fianna Fáil ministers had withheld information and deliberately intended to mislead the Dáil during a controversy surrounding the extradition of paedophile priest Fr Brendan Smyth.

State Papers • 29 Dec 25

18 June 1994; Republic of Ireland supporters prior to the FIFA World Cup 1994 Group E match between Republic of Ireland and Italy at Giants Stadium in New Jersey, USA. Photo by David Maher/Sportsfile

Stranded Irish fans given USA '94 tickets worth thousands

Irish embassy officials gave thousands of pounds worth of World Cup 1994 tickets to Irish fans left stranded and ticketless in Florida - after a British travel agent suddenly went bust - in order to prevent what they feared risked becoming a "riotous situation".

State Papers • 29 Dec 25

A general view of Sellafield nuclear processing plant in Cumbria,

Govt considered legal action over Sellafield plant

In 1995, escalating fears of a radiation accident at the Sellafield/Thorp nuclear facilities in Cumbria in the UK led the Irish government to consider taking legal action.

State Papers • 29 Dec 25