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Writing Peace: The National Archives of the UK (TNA)

Memo from Jonathan Haslam to John Major summarising a Panorama film on Drumcree, 15 July 1996

Monday, 15 July 1996

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This document contains the summary of a Panorama film on the events that took place at Drumcree the previous week, written by Jonathan Haslam, Chief Press Secretary for the Prime Minister's office, on 15 July 1996 for British Prime Minister John Major's reference. The summary was based on a read-out that Haslam had received from reporter Peter Taylor, and it ostensibly contained an interview with Hugh Annesley, the Chief Constable of the RUC [Royal Ulster Constabulary], in which he placed the blame for the incidents on the extreme wings of the Orange Order and Nationalists, and pointed to inflammatory attitudes of Unionist leaders David Trimble and Ian Paisley. The film also reportedly showcased that Trimble had refused to speak to the Garvaghy Road residents' representative on grounds of his 'terrorist background', and that Trimble had met with Billy Wright in a Portadown church around the same time. In the film, Annelsey reportedly asserted his operational independence and confirmed that Secretary of State Patrick Mayhew had not given him any political direction on how to deal with the incident. Hasalm advised Major to defend Annelsey in his upcoming interview, and listed questions that were likely to be asked in the interview.

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Writing Peace: The National Archives of the UK (TNA)

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