Secret diplomatic files, declassified after twenty years, have laid bare the surprising extent of contacts between Martin McAleese, the husband of former Irish President Mary McAleese, and senior loyalist paramilitary figures in Northern Ireland. The documents reveal that what began as a personal initiative soon developed a momentum of its own, involving golf outings, meetings at the presidential residence, and high-level engagements with UDA brigadiers.
A Confidential Lunch and 'A Life of Its Own'
More than 1,100 official files from the Public Record Office in Belfast have been made public under the 20-year rule, with many detailing the politically sensitive period of 2004-2005 when direct rule from Westminster was in place. Among them is a confidential memo from September 2003, written by senior UK official Chris McCabe to the then British ambassador to Ireland, Stewart Eldon, following a "private chat" over lunch with Martin McAleese.
The note, titled "Loyalism and the Irish: Lunch with Martin McAleese," stated that Dr McAleese was "very frank" about his outreach. Mr McCabe recorded that the engagements were "impressive in both their breadth and depth" and that McAleese was "determined to press on for as long as possible, expanding the list of his Loyalist 'friends' at every opportunity." Crucially, the official observed that "the meetings seem to have taken on a life of their own."
Golf Trips, Bug Checks, and Presidential Meetings
The declassified note provides remarkable detail about the nature of these contacts, which were aimed at bringing loyalist groups in from the margins of the peace process. The activities included:
- A large meeting at Aras an Uachtarain, the Irish president's official residence, involving around 50 unionists and loyalists to discuss cross-community issues.
- Several meetings with UDA brigadiers, including the "jovial" Jim Gray, where South Belfast Brigadier Jackie McDonald was seen as the first among equals.
- Social events, such as golf outings, with UDA leaders and their associates.
One particularly vivid anecdote concerns a planned golf trip where Martin McAleese laid on a coach for the loyalist leaders. They refused the offer, however, due to collective security fears and because it would look "too much like a UDA day-trip." Instead, a fleet of mini-buses was arranged, with each vehicle being meticulously checked for "bugs and bombs" before the guests would board.
Expanding the Network to UVF and DUP
The files show that Dr McAleese, who described himself as a "relative innocent abroad," was not content to limit his dialogue to the UDA. The UK official's note concluded by stating that McAleese was keen to establish a link with someone on the "military side" of the UVF. To this end, he planned to dine with Progressive Unionist Party (PUP) chairman David Rose and secretary Dawn Purvis, hoping it would lead to direct paramilitary contact.
He also harboured "tentative plans for some sort of dialogue with members of the DUP." The British officials commended his initiative but cautioned that, given the need for transparency and accountability, they "couldn't hope to match his activities" on their side of the border, though they encouraged him to continue.
The memo was copied to the then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Paul Murphy, and other direct rule ministers, underscoring the high-level awareness of these unconventional diplomatic channels. The revelations provide a fascinating, behind-the-scenes look at the informal efforts to sustain dialogue during a fragile phase in the Northern Ireland peace process.
