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John Major ‘shouted at’ by Irish justice minister in Troubles-era meeting

Padraig Flynn, Irish Justice Minister, challenged Sir John Major, Prime Minister, Peter Mayhew, Northern Ireland Secretary, and Albert Reynolds, Taoiseach, over Loyalist paramilitary violence in a note now in National Archives file 2023/50/204.
Reduced Anglo‑Irish contact prompted Flynn to say cooperation with the Anglo‑Irish Inter‑Governmental Conference had decreased after meetings stopped, creating security gaps, while Mayhew insisted officials remained committed despite being 'tied up' in talks.
Flynn listed specific security concerns including closure of cross‑border roads, rebuilding a watchtower near Cloghogue school, and favoring mobile patrols over permanent vehicle checkpoints, while Major assured him matters would be looked at.
The meeting grew testy, with Padraig Flynn saying he, Fianna Fáil and Eamon de Valera had 'been insulted', while Major described being 'shouted at' as like 'being in the House of Commons' and joked about 'meeting the reptiles'.
The documents underscore lingering unionist mistrust and Major conceded limited UK Government control, while the Irish Government would consider changes to Articles 2 and 3 only with a full agreement and voter attitudes were 'not calculable'.

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