Page 45 - Peter Bell News Today

A meeting between British and Irish ministers at Maryfield, the base of the Anglo-Irish Secretariat, descended into jibes over how the BSE crisis was handled north and south of the border. Northern officials accused the Republic of taking a “protectionist response” to the issue, according to newly declassified government files. The documents – which include prime ministerial briefing papers, internal memos and draft reports from within the Northern Ireland Civil Service in the early 1990s...

Civil servants opposed Mowlam wish to write Famine article, files show Northern Ireland secretary could detract from Blair statement of regret, officials feared Thu, Dec 31, 2020, 00:03 Mark Devenport Northern Ireland secretary Mo Mowlam wanted to write an article criticising the wrongs of all parties during the Famine. Photograph: Reuters/Corbis   Northern Ireland Office (...

Irish officials raised concerns about Billy Wrights move to the Maze months before LVF leaders murder Former LVF founder and leader Billy Wright was killed inside the Maze prison by the INLA in December 1997. Picture from Pacemaker Éamon Phoenix 29 December, 2020 00:01 Irish officials raised concerns about LVF leader Billy Wrights move from Maghaberry jail in Co Antrim to the nearby Maze prison months before he was shot dead. Portadown-based LVF a...

Extent of British discomfort at commemorating Irish Famine revealed John Major said 1996 service would look like an apology and offend unionists, files show Tue, Dec 29, 2020, 00:05 Éamon Phoenix, Mark Devenport Irish emigrants embarking for America at Waterloo Docks, Liverpoo...

BBC News By Éamon Phoenix image captionThousands of people gathered at Stormont to see Elton John perform in May 1998 When Mo Mowlam stepped into Northern Ireland politics in 1997, she brought with her an unconventional, straight-talking approach to doing business. As Northern Ireland secretary she oversaw the negotiations that led to the 1998 Good Friday peace agreement which brought the Troubles to an end. But her vivacity initially caused eyebrows to be raised at Stormont and among Irish g...

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...

BBC News By Dr Éamon Phoenix image captionViolence erupted in 1996 between the police and thousands of loyalists at Drumcree Parish Church Difficulties facing the incoming Labour Government of Tony Blair on the issue of contentious parades feature in previously confidential government files just published. On 29 April, 1997, a senior NI Office official produced a file for the new Labour NI secretary, Dr Mo Mowlam. Stephen Leach noted that Labour was committed to establishing a parades commissi...

Revellers outside York Minster on a previous New Year Picture: David Harrison THE bells of York Minster will not chime in the New Year on December 31 in a bid to stop large crowds gathering to mark the start of 2021. For the first time in as long as anyone can remember, the cathedrals bells will stay silent at the start of next year with the hope that Duncombe Place and the surrounding streets will not become a focal point for revellers, as is traditionally the case. The announcement from...

Revellers outside York Minster on a previous New Year Picture: David Harrison THE bells of York Minster will not chime in the New Year on December 31 in a bid to stop large crowds gathering to mark the start of 2021. For the first time in as long as anyone can remember, the cathedrals bells will stay silent at the start of next year with the hope that Duncombe Place and the surrounding streets will not become a focal point for revellers, as is traditionally the case. The announcement from...

Prince william. but most of his guests are eastern european. some of them dont even speak polish but they come in here they look on the dish or does doesnt look polish and then they eat the dish as if this is like my mom cooked so this is what i think makes me smile. house of feasts is located on the outskirts of peter bell in the east of england its many factories and farms and workers from eastern europe who are long welcomed here with open arms. tens of thousands of poles settled here but sin...