Political parties in Northern Ireland are gearing up for September talks in England at Leeds Castle in an effort to restore the dissolved Northern Ireland Assembly. Arms decommissioning, policing, and demilitarization are again expected to top the agenda, and although there is little sign of where a breakthrough can be made, pre-talks overtures from theRead more..
The Northern Secretary John Reid announced recently that he considered the ceasefires of three loyalist groups to be over. The actions of the Ulster Defence Association (UDA) and the Loyalist Volunteer Force (LVF) were so blatant and persistent that they could no longer be ignored by politicians. The move came mostly in response to theRead more..
If political power can be judged by how an individual influences society and changes its laws, then there’s an arguable case for British defense lawyer Michael Mansfield being one of the most powerful figures on the British stage today. The list of trials and inquiries in which he has played a major role reads likeRead more..
The Gardai (Irish police) have seized 18 letters written by Eamonn de Valera to his wife, Sinead, between 1912 and 1920. Some of the letters were written while he was imprisoned for his part in the 1916 Rising and others were written while he was in the U.S. promoting the idea of an independent Ireland.Read more..
New papers show influence with Reagan. ℘℘℘ Newly released files from the Reagan White House papers show that the Irish-American president was persuaded by a personal appeal by then House Speaker Thomas “Tip” O’Neill to intervene in the Northern Ireland issue. The Boston Globe, which surveyed the files under the Freedom of Information Act, revealedRead more..
The Northern Ireland Assembly is back – but intransigence could still damage the prospects for peace. ℘℘℘ Glimpse a furrowed brow or lips shut tight against gritted teeth at Stormont right now and you’re looking at someone who was counting on the peace process ending in failure and recriminations. Those with a spring in theirRead more..