Northern Ireland

IRA decommissioning key issue in 1998

President George W Bush meeting the leaders of the Republic and Northern Ireland in the Oval Office on March 13 2002. From left to right Gerry Adams; John Reid; Bertie Ahern; President Bush; David Trimble; Mark Durkan and David Ford. Picture by Doug Mills, Associated Press
President George W Bush meeting the leaders of the Republic and Northern Ireland in the Oval Office on March 13 2002. From left to right Gerry Adams; John Reid; Bertie Ahern; President Bush; David Trimble; Mark Durkan and David Ford. Picture by Doug Mills President George W Bush meeting the leaders of the Republic and Northern Ireland in the Oval Office on March 13 2002. From left to right Gerry Adams; John Reid; Bertie Ahern; President Bush; David Trimble; Mark Durkan and David Ford. Picture by Doug Mills, Associated Press

THE problem of how to achieve IRA decommissioning dominated declassified files from 1998.

On September 10, 1998, the First Minister and UUP leader, David Trimble had an historic first meeting with Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams.

Reporting to the NIO, Tony Blair’s principal private secretary John Holmes said the meeting had been positive.

On decommissioning "(Mr) Adams told him that at the moment he could not deliver on this but (said) he hoped (Martin) McGuinness and (General John) de Chastelain, together with Trimble and himself, could work something out".

However, in a memo to Nick Perry of the NIO, dated September 18, 1998, Mr Holmes said Secretary of State Dr Mo Mowlam had expressed concerns about the issue to Mr Blair.

Dr Mowlam was particularly concerned that if the decommissioning impasse dragged on it might impact negatively on the forthcoming US ‘Eleven City Tour’ featuring Mr Trimble and Mr Mallon.

Dr Mowlam said the British Government must "keep pressure on Sinn Féin over decommissioning".

Secondly, they should explore if there was room for progress on "NI Government and North-South issues" short of the actual formation of the Executive.

Thirdly, they should seek maximum engagement by Sinn Féin with the 'decommissioning Commission', combined with progress on the ‘Disappeared’ and continued movement on demilitarisation.

Mr Blair said he was willing to speak to Mr Adams and Mr Trimble. He said that they should take account of Mr Trimble’s warning that he must not be "bounced into a Shadow Executive" without progress on decommissioning.