Page 7 - State Papers News Today

US president George W Bush warned Taoiseach Bertie Ahern that Russian president Vladimir Putin’s mentality remained that of someone who worked in the KGB.

Secret documents revealed Irish officials considered whether to return extradition papers over Desmond ‘Dessie’ Ellis to the UK in the 1990s because London had failed to get the constitutional name of the Irish state correct.

US officials warned it was “insulting to our intelligence” to claim three Irishmen with Sinn Féin connections were in Colombia to promote some form of peace process with Farc rebels.

State papers published this week include confidential records showing what civil servants really thought about the North’s political leaders

The Irish government was determined to honour Princess Grace of Monaco and her proud commitment to her Irish heritage by having President Patrick Hillery and a strong Irish delegation attend her funeral in September 1982.

Former Northern secretary saw the UUP leader David Trimble as ‘a deeply insecure leader’

Prime minister’s private secretary wrote that Blair ‘sees little scope for bi-communal support for a change to the law’

News from the Irish Examiners team of reporters

State papers: Tony Blair wanted Wimbledon FC to move to Northern Ireland but senior civil servant warned it could be ‘another focus for sectarianism’

It also appeared that the UUP leader, David Trimble, may not have been aware of such meetings