Sinn Fein’s party invite a headache for officials

SINN Fein’s invitation to an Anglo-irish Christmas party during the peace process created a headache for officials.

Civil servants worried it could dissuade some from attending and pose a security risk. An October 1997 note on the affair details the behind-the-scenes anxiety.

NIO official PN Bell wrote: “Now that Sinn Fein are, following the restoration of their ceasefire and full membership of the talks, a constitutional party, I can see no justification for not extending an invitation which, almost certainly, they will accept.”

The Maryfield Secretariat near Belfast was established as part of the Anglo-irish Agreement which instituted closer north/ south cooperation.

The civil servant added: “Nevertheless, such an invitation would not be without its downside: once news of a Sinn Fein presence became common place, it would intensify unionist dislike of the Secretariat; it could generate some security risk; it might even deter other guests — although I greatly hope not, from wishing to attend, as well as creating some management problems within the Secretariat itself.

“The Christmas spirit will not come entirely free this year.”

Up to that point, unionists had never attended the Maryfield Christmas party.

The official added: “To sum up, the case for extending a joint invitation to Sinn Fein is irresistible. But, given the likely reaction in some quarters, I wish to be certain that ministers know all the implications, and are content that I should proceed with inviting a few leading Sinn Fein players along with other leading Northern Irish politicians.”

The Northern Ireland Forum for Political Dialogue had also reflected on those who worked at Maryfield, the files said.

The Government archives quoted from a debate: “Even the prosperous burghers of Holywood were so outraged at the Anglo-irish Agreement in 1985 that the Maryfield bunker had to be virtually the most fortified place in Northern Ireland, and that remains the case today.”

It said civil servants working there and from Northern Ireland did not dare tell friends for fear of “shame and opprobrium”.

“If he is from the Irish Republic he is furtively ferried in. He sits in the Maryfield bunker, somewhat similar to an astronaut sitting in the space shuttle.

“He can never venture out and meet the people of Northern Ireland.”