<![CDATA[Belfast Telegraph - Declassified files]]>https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/tag/declassified-files/_next/static/media/logo-square-main.cd31e28d.pngBelfast Telegraph - Declassified fileshttps://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/tag/declassified-filesmhie-beltel-onlineMon, 01 Jun 2026 16:37:26 GMT<![CDATA[‘I will keep on crying until I die’: Elderly mother’s desperate letter to PM, begging to clear name of her son killed on Bloody Sunday, emerges after decades]]>https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/i-will-keep-on-crying-until-i-die-elderly-mothers-desperate-letter-to-pm-begging-to-clear-name-of-her-son-killed-on-bloody-sunday-emerges-after-decades/a/145855519.htmlKordiam-2033029463-3298356987-2560406719Sat, 25 Apr 2026 06:00:00 GMT2026-04-25T06:23:39.000Ztrue<![CDATA[MI6 and Army disagreed on hard IRA crackdown, as generals delivered ultimatum on releasing top Provos, files show]]>https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/mi6-and-army-disagreed-on-hard-ira-crackdown-as-generals-delivered-ultimatum-on-releasing-top-provos-files-show/a/145643799.htmlKordiam-2032960687-3298214271-2560320695Wed, 15 Apr 2026 05:22:00 GMT2026-04-15T05:22:00.000Ztrue<![CDATA[Secret MoD file reveals plan to rebrand what Supreme Court says is torture as ‘security measures’ on IRA suspects]]>https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/secret-mod-file-reveals-plan-to-rebrand-what-supreme-court-says-is-torture-as-security-measures-on-ira-suspects/a/145643876.htmlKordiam-2032960798-3298214476-2560320798Tue, 14 Apr 2026 05:00:00 GMT2026-04-14T06:31:59.000Ztrue<![CDATA[Secret files reveal Government fears that US extradition of key IRA suspects could ‘upset the rhythm’ of peace]]>https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/secret-files-reveal-government-fears-that-us-extradition-of-key-ira-suspects-could-upset-the-rhythm-of-peace/a/145599670.htmlKordiam-2032946847-3298185763-2560304719Mon, 13 Apr 2026 05:40:00 GMT2026-04-13T06:57:52.000Ztrue<![CDATA[How MI5 and MI6 scrambled to stop journalist’s story on IRA informer... and feared what he was writing about McGuinness too]]>https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/how-mi5-and-mi6-scrambled-to-stop-journalists-story-on-ira-informer...-and-feared-what-he-was-writing-about-mcguinness-too/a/145530014.htmlKordiam-2032912381-3298114209-2560264839Sat, 11 Apr 2026 06:00:00 GMT2026-04-11T09:24:27.000Ztrue<![CDATA[It wasn’t just the RAF which secretly defended Ireland — for years the Royal Navy also had a covert role, file reveals]]>https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/it-wasnt-just-the-raf-which-secretly-defended-ireland-for-years-the-royal-navy-also-had-a-covert-role-file-reveals/a/145506750.htmlKordiam-2032907255-3298102987-2560258879Fri, 10 Apr 2026 05:13:00 GMT2026-04-10T05:13:00.000Ztrue<![CDATA[Gerry Adams said he was prepared to ‘wade up to my knees in Protestant blood to united Ireland’, ex-IRA man claimed]]>https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/gerry-adams-said-he-was-prepared-to-wade-up-to-my-knees-in-protestant-blood-to-united-ireland-ex-ira-man-claimed/a/145252470.htmlKordiam-2032803519-3297895375-2560137971Fri, 10 Apr 2026 05:09:00 GMT2026-04-10T08:16:13.000Ztrue<![CDATA[Taoiseach Lynch privately pressed PM to back Irish unity but Heath refused, telling him most in NI were unionist and ‘he wasn’t prepared to tell them what they ought to want’]]>https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/taoiseach-lynch-privately-pressed-pm-to-back-irish-unity-but-heath-refused-telling-him-most-in-ni-were-unionist-and-he-wasnt-prepared-to-tell-them-what-they-ought-to-want/a/145385868.htmlKordiam-2032861376-3298009216-2560202628Thu, 09 Apr 2026 05:00:00 GMT2026-04-09T05:14:43.000Ztrue<![CDATA[NIO predicted 1981 hunger strike five years before it happened and warned policy ‘may well result in prisoners being allowed to die’]]>https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/nio-predicted-1981-hunger-strike-five-years-before-it-happened-and-warned-policy-may-well-result-in-prisoners-being-allowed-to-die/a/145291911.htmlKordiam-2032821882-3297931278-2560155926Thu, 09 Apr 2026 05:00:00 GMT2026-04-09T05:15:32.000Ztrue<![CDATA[David Trimble told Tony Blair they’d both ‘turned a blind eye’ to paramilitary criminality and that ‘writing off’ ceasefire breaches must come with guarantees]]>https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/david-trimble-told-tony-blair-theyd-both-turned-a-blind-eye-to-paramilitary-criminality-and-that-writing-off-ceasefire-breaches-must-come-with-guarantees/a/145320588.htmlKordiam-2032839222-3297964958-2560176480Wed, 08 Apr 2026 05:00:00 GMT2026-04-08T05:19:59.000Ztrue<![CDATA[‘The situation is as near a hopeless one as I have ever seen’: What future Tory grandee told PM Heath just fortnight before Bloody Sunday]]>https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/the-situation-is-as-near-a-hopeless-one-as-i-have-ever-seen-what-future-tory-grandee-told-pm-heath-just-fortnight-before-bloody-sunday/a/145313974.htmlKordiam-2032835223-3297957145-2560171515Wed, 08 Apr 2026 05:00:00 GMT2026-04-08T05:19:16.000Ztrue<![CDATA[MI5 had intelligence from ‘highly sensitive source’ on IRA’s plans to attack England in 1996]]>https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/mi5-had-intelligence-from-highly-sensitive-source-on-iras-plans-to-attack-england-in-1996/a/145258587.htmlKordiam-2032808024-3297903946-2560141582Wed, 08 Apr 2026 05:00:00 GMT2026-04-08T05:34:32.000Ztrue<![CDATA[Senior Russian defence figure pressed for a group of ‘clever colonels’ to visit NI in late 1990s to learn about the Troubles]]>https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/senior-russian-defence-figure-pressed-for-a-group-of-clever-colonels-to-visit-ni-in-late-1990s-to-learn-about-the-troubles/a/145201942.htmlKordiam-2032793426-3297876038-2560128728Wed, 08 Apr 2026 05:00:00 GMT2026-04-08T05:22:17.000Ztrue<![CDATA[Lord Chief Justices rejected NIO pressure to remove requirement for QCs to serve Queen — to the dismay of a barrister who is now one of NI’s top judges]]>https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/lord-chief-justices-rejected-nio-pressure-to-remove-requirement-for-qcs-to-serve-queen-to-the-dismay-of-a-barrister-who-is-now-one-of-nis-top-judges/a/145252456.htmlKordiam-2032803513-3297895365-2560137969Tue, 07 Apr 2026 05:00:00 GMT2026-04-07T05:06:20.000Ztrue<![CDATA[Gregory Campbell the moderate? Almost as soon as DUP walked out of Good Friday Agreement talks, NIO got a surprising private message]]>https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/gregory-campbell-the-moderate-almost-as-soon-as-dup-walked-out-of-good-friday-agreement-talks-nio-got-a-surprising-private-message/a/145201760.htmlKordiam-2032793410-3297875982-2560128702Mon, 06 Apr 2026 05:00:00 GMT2026-04-06T05:00:00.000Ztrue<![CDATA[Weeks after courtroom denial, declassified high-level intelligence claims Gerry Adams was re-elected to IRA Army Council in 1996]]>https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/weeks-after-courtroom-denial-declassified-high-level-intelligence-claims-gerry-adams-was-re-elected-to-ira-army-council-in-1996/a/145201644.htmlKordiam-2032793394-3297875938-2560128686Mon, 06 Apr 2026 05:00:00 GMT2026-04-06T06:08:51.000Ztrue<![CDATA[How I stumbled on Stormont’s new policy of extreme censorship - which means we’ll understand NI’s past less fully]]>https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/how-i-stumbled-on-stormonts-new-policy-of-extreme-censorship-which-means-well-understand-nis-past-less-fully/a/141572002.htmlKordiam-2032263270-3296788958-2559506044Sat, 14 Mar 2026 07:00:00 GMT2026-03-14T11:26:50.000Ztrue<![CDATA[SF man says he proposed IRA cyber operation to hack into huge British bank in 1980s – but Army Council member vetoed proposal]]>https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/sf-man-says-he-proposed-ira-cyber-operation-to-hack-into-huge-british-bank-in-1980s-but-army-council-member-vetoed-proposal/a/121694074.htmlkiosk-belfasttelegraph.co.uk-1123557157Wed, 07 Jan 2026 06:17:43 GMT2026-01-07T06:17:43.000Ztrue<![CDATA[Extraordinary files show Boris Johnson’s chief Brexit negotiator must have known it wouldn’t be easy for Northern Ireland ]]>https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/comment/opinion/extraordinary-files-show-boris-johnsons-chief-brexit-negotiator-must-have-known-it-wouldnt-be-easy-for-northern-ireland/a/121325580.htmlkiosk-belfasttelegraph.co.uk-170820806Sun, 04 Jan 2026 07:00:00 GMT2026-01-04T07:00:00.000Ztrue<![CDATA[Declassified files reveal government’s towering hypocrisy: It has cosied up to loyalist terror bosses it claims to be crushing]]>https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/comment/opinion/declassified-files-reveal-governments-towering-hypocrisy-it-has-cosied-up-to-loyalist-terror-bosses-it-claims-to-be-crushing/a/121259017.htmlkiosk-belfasttelegraph.co.uk-443812516Sat, 03 Jan 2026 07:00:00 GMT2026-01-03T07:00:00.000Ztrue<![CDATA[Downing Street baffled by ‘bizarre’ Union flag gift from Taoiseach]]>https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/downing-street-baffled-by-bizarre-union-flag-gift-from-taoiseach/a/121009403.htmlkiosk-belfasttelegraph.co.uk-1129269125Fri, 02 Jan 2026 06:50:43 GMT2026-01-02T10:00:00.000Ztrue<![CDATA[Tony Blair ordered senior ministers to visit NI after ‘horrific’ discovery none had been there in 20 years]]>https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/tony-blair-ordered-senior-ministers-to-visit-ni-after-horrific-discovery-none-had-been-there-in-20-years/a/121008656.htmlkiosk-belfasttelegraph.co.uk-782160794Fri, 02 Jan 2026 06:48:25 GMT2026-01-02T10:00:00.000Ztrue<![CDATA[IRA engaged in mutilation and intelligence-gathering five years after Agreement – and Government linked it to Sinn Féin]]>https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/ira-engaged-in-mutilation-and-intelligence-gathering-five-years-after-agreement-and-government-linked-it-to-sinn-fein/a/121008589.htmlkiosk-belfasttelegraph.co.uk-1483383377Fri, 02 Jan 2026 06:46:56 GMT2026-01-02T10:00:00.000Ztrue<![CDATA[IRA being retrospectively legitimised by those who’d never have supported it while killing: British Ambassador 20 years ago]]>https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/ira-being-retrospectively-legitimised-by-those-whod-never-have-supported-it-while-killing-british-ambassador-20-years-ago/a/121008912.htmlkiosk-belfasttelegraph.co.uk-452475084Fri, 02 Jan 2026 06:12:26 GMT2026-01-02T08:00:00.000Ztrue<![CDATA[Whitehall officials ‘too busy looking after backyard’ to warn NI of approaching Chernobyl cloud]]>https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/environment/whitehall-officials-too-busy-looking-after-backyard-to-warn-ni-of-approaching-chernobyl-cloud/a/120920769.htmlkiosk-belfasttelegraph.co.uk-1264251047Thu, 01 Jan 2026 07:41:51 GMT2026-01-01T10:00:00.000Ztrue<![CDATA[Taoiseach bluntly told to mind his own business after ‘outrageous’ comments about Lord Chief Justice’s verdict on IRA man’s killing]]>https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/courts/taoiseach-bluntly-told-to-mind-his-own-business-after-outrageous-comments-about-lord-chief-justices-verdict-on-ira-mans-killing/a/120920878.htmlkiosk-belfasttelegraph.co.uk-1846306193Thu, 01 Jan 2026 07:37:28 GMT2026-01-01T10:00:00.000Ztrue<![CDATA[Adams ‘senior member of IRA Army Council who could end violence’, Foreign Secretary told US]]>https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/adams-senior-member-of-ira-army-council-who-could-end-violence-foreign-secretary-told-us/a/120920668.htmlkiosk-belfasttelegraph.co.uk-636509149Thu, 01 Jan 2026 07:01:02 GMT2026-01-01T10:00:00.000Ztrue<![CDATA[Secret SDLP plan to get Monaco-based Irish businessman into the House of Lords alongside Derry man taking ‘personal risk’]]>https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/secret-sdlp-plan-to-get-monaco-based-irish-businessman-into-the-house-of-lords-alongside-derry-man-taking-personal-risk/a/120834884.htmlkiosk-belfasttelegraph.co.uk-1875625343Wed, 31 Dec 2025 06:45:00 GMT2025-12-31T10:00:00.000Ztrue<![CDATA[DUP proposed Jim Wells for a peerage — but second proposed name ‘out of the question’]]>https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/dup-proposed-jim-wells-for-a-peerage-but-second-proposed-name-out-of-the-question/a/120834401.htmlkiosk-belfasttelegraph.co.uk-1605866719Wed, 31 Dec 2025 06:45:00 GMT2025-12-31T10:00:00.000Ztrue<![CDATA[Jeffrey Donaldson told PM talking to SF was unthinkable – years after he started secret SF talks]]>https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/jeffrey-donaldson-told-pm-talking-to-sf-was-unthinkable-years-after-he-started-secret-sf-talks/a/120834652.htmlkiosk-belfasttelegraph.co.uk-195106691Wed, 31 Dec 2025 06:00:00 GMT2025-12-31T06:22:26.000Ztrue<![CDATA[Stormont officials wanted to keep two Belfast airports – despite being warned about Dublin]]>https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/stormont-officials-wanted-to-keep-two-belfast-airports-despite-being-warned-about-dublin/a/120834304.htmlkiosk-belfasttelegraph.co.uk-2129835918Tue, 30 Dec 2025 17:10:03 GMT2025-12-31T06:43:42.000Ztrue<![CDATA[UDA ‘brigadiers’ declined McAleese-organised coach, fearing it looked ‘too much like a UDA day-trip’ amid Irish golf and social outings]]>https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/uda-brigadiers-declined-mcaleese-organised-coach-fearing-it-looked-too-much-like-a-uda-day-trip-amid-irish-golf-and-social-outings/a/120593857.htmlkiosk-belfasttelegraph.co.uk-144147708Tue, 30 Dec 2025 05:00:00 GMT2025-12-30T10:00:00.000Ztrue<![CDATA[They knew: Declassified files prove Stormont understood Lough Neagh’s pollution decades ago – but then made it worse]]>https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/business/agri/they-knew-declassified-files-prove-stormont-understood-lough-neaghs-pollution-decades-ago-but-then-made-it-worse/a/120592286.htmlkiosk-belfasttelegraph.co.uk-1073215280Tue, 30 Dec 2025 05:00:00 GMT2025-12-30T13:49:30.000Ztrue<![CDATA[NI’s governance was revolutionised 40 years ago – but only now is gulf between ferocious unionist rhetoric and private compromise emerging]]>https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/comment/opinion/nis-governance-was-revolutionised-40-years-ago-but-only-now-is-gulf-between-ferocious-unionist-rhetoric-and-private-compromise-emerging/a/112236535.htmlkiosk-belfasttelegraph.co.uk-469657059Sat, 15 Nov 2025 07:00:00 GMT2025-12-11T01:58:43.000Ztrue<![CDATA[Buried file reveals how London wanted Stormont to pardon men accused of killing son of Apprentice Boys’ chief in 1920 as anarchy gripped Derry]]>https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/comment/opinion/buried-file-reveals-how-london-wanted-stormont-to-pardon-men-accused-of-killing-son-of-apprentice-boys-chief-in-1920-as-anarchy-gripped-derry/a/112187196.htmlkiosk-belfasttelegraph.co.uk-79052841Sat, 30 Aug 2025 06:00:00 GMT2025-12-10T23:30:41.000Ztrue<![CDATA[Gangster was on IRA Army Council, according to newly released Downing Street file]]>https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/gangster-was-on-ira-army-council-according-to-newly-released-downing-street-file/a/112172341.htmlkiosk-belfasttelegraph.co.uk-696112724Mon, 25 Aug 2025 05:01:16 GMT2025-12-10T22:27:33.000Ztrue<![CDATA[IRA’s Stormont spy ring material included map detailing Castle Buildings zones, passwords and security info]]>https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/iras-stormont-spy-ring-material-included-map-detailing-castle-buildings-zones-passwords-and-security-info/a/112197323.htmlkiosk-belfasttelegraph.co.uk-1354475863Tue, 19 Aug 2025 05:03:48 GMT2025-08-19T05:03:48.000Ztrue<![CDATA[Donaldson secretly told governments he wasn’t as hardline as they thought – and might govern without full IRA decommissioning]]>https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/donaldson-secretly-told-governments-he-wasnt-as-hardline-as-they-thought-and-might-govern-without-full-ira-decommissioning/a/112170904.htmlkiosk-belfasttelegraph.co.uk-545489050Sat, 16 Aug 2025 07:01:00 GMT2025-12-10T22:36:49.000Ztrue<![CDATA[Adams claimed fraud law excluded voters – but names SF gave Electoral Office turned out to be dead people]]>https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/adams-claimed-fraud-law-excluded-voters-but-names-sf-gave-electoral-office-turned-out-to-be-dead-people/a/112186255.htmlkiosk-belfasttelegraph.co.uk-850864730Wed, 13 Aug 2025 05:23:33 GMT2025-12-10T22:51:04.000Ztrue<![CDATA[US diplomat believed Tony Blair should stop ‘pussy footing around’ with Gerry Adams after 9/11 attacks]]>https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/us-diplomat-believed-tony-blair-should-stop-pussy-footing-around-with-gerry-adams-after-911-attacks/a/112200564.htmlkiosk-belfasttelegraph.co.uk-967068667Mon, 11 Aug 2025 05:42:55 GMT2025-08-11T05:44:01.000Ztrue<![CDATA[Governments feared names of IRA Army Council were to be published and lobbied to stop it]]>https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/governments-feared-names-of-ira-army-council-were-to-be-published-and-lobbied-to-stop-it/a/112181964.htmlkiosk-belfasttelegraph.co.uk-1808107232Wed, 06 Aug 2025 05:00:00 GMT2025-12-10T22:36:49.000Ztrue<![CDATA[Blair removed NIO security minister days after she lambasted him in letter for being too soft on Sinn Féin]]>https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/blair-removed-nio-security-minister-days-after-she-lambasted-him-in-letter-for-being-too-soft-on-sinn-fein/a/112182348.htmlkiosk-belfasttelegraph.co.uk-2017566667Tue, 05 Aug 2025 05:00:00 GMT2025-12-10T22:21:47.000Ztrue<![CDATA[Flattery, deceit, a financial bung, MI5 briefing and a secret back-channel to Sinn Féin: DUP’s route to power is revealed]]>https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/comment/opinion/flattery-deceit-a-financial-bung-mi5-briefing-and-a-secret-back-channel-to-sinn-fein-dups-route-to-power-is-revealed/a/112192264.htmlkiosk-belfasttelegraph.co.uk-246581949Sat, 02 Aug 2025 06:00:00 GMT2025-12-10T23:32:44.000Ztrue<![CDATA[Major decision by UDA’s ‘inner council’ was almost immediately known to MI5, declassified files show]]>https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/major-decision-by-udas-inner-council-was-almost-immediately-known-to-mi5-declassified-files-show/a/112197875.htmlkiosk-belfasttelegraph.co.uk-864232768Tue, 29 Jul 2025 06:00:00 GMT2025-12-10T23:19:23.000Ztrue<![CDATA[Files prove key parts of seminal Adams’ speech written by man now key figure in British intelligence]]>https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/files-prove-key-parts-of-seminal-adams-speech-written-by-man-now-key-figure-in-british-intelligence/a/112171756.htmlkiosk-belfasttelegraph.co.uk-1741028000Mon, 28 Jul 2025 05:00:00 GMT2025-12-10T23:22:53.000Ztrue<![CDATA[Documents prove that despite denials, Stormont negotiated water charges – and selling off NI Water]]>https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/comment/opinion/documents-prove-that-despite-denials-stormont-negotiated-water-charges-and-selling-off-ni-water/a/112176249.htmlkiosk-belfasttelegraph.co.uk-239808403Sat, 26 Jul 2025 06:00:00 GMT2025-12-10T22:16:31.000Ztrue<![CDATA[More than a year before Hume quit as SDLP leader, ‘shocked’ British Ambassador found him incoherent]]>https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/more-than-a-year-before-hume-quit-as-sdlp-leader-shocked-british-ambassador-found-him-incoherent/a/112175556.htmlkiosk-belfasttelegraph.co.uk-1815896330Fri, 02 May 2025 05:40:50 GMT2025-12-10T23:19:23.000Ztrue<![CDATA[UUP advisor suggested border poll to boost party vote but admitted it could seem ‘tacky’]]>https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/uup-advisor-suggested-border-poll-to-boost-party-vote-but-admitted-it-could-seem-tacky/a/112208159.htmlkiosk-belfasttelegraph.co.uk-991829909Thu, 01 May 2025 05:35:43 GMT2025-05-01T06:50:05.000Ztrue<![CDATA[Blair and Trimble wanted Queen to visit Ireland in 2000 – but Taoiseach feared for her security]]>https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/blair-and-trimble-wanted-queen-to-visit-ireland-in-2000-but-taoiseach-feared-for-her-security/a/112183987.htmlkiosk-belfasttelegraph.co.uk-572838061Wed, 30 Apr 2025 05:37:16 GMT2025-12-10T22:13:42.000Ztrue<![CDATA[How Army and No10 clashed over removal of Crossmaglen sangar]]>https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/how-army-and-no10-clashed-over-removal-of-crossmaglen-sangar/a/112170365.htmlkiosk-belfasttelegraph.co.uk-764455993Sat, 26 Apr 2025 06:05:08 GMT2025-12-10T23:27:15.000Ztrue