What happened when Gerry Adams and other republican leaders met the government in 1972?
Documents finally released to the public reveal all. Despite protestations to the contrary over the years, the British Government constantly maintained open channels with the IRA during the worst of the Troubles. The first major meeting of 1972 when an IRA delegation including Gerry Adams was flown into London is among the most well known. But documents released under the 30-year-rule reveal for the first time the details of official reaction at the time – and confirm that Mr Adams had an earlier longer meeting with two officials which had given the government hope of a breakthrough amid conflict. Official and unofficial worlds Officially, there was no chance either wing of the IRA would be allowed into proposed multi-party talks, on the table during the violence of 1972. William Whitelaw: Sanctioned secret contacts But in secret, MI6 pursued contacts with the IRA as part of attempts to see if they could be persuaded into a ceasefire. These secret contacts, also conducted through leadi
