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Gaddafi was killed in 2011. He's pictured he in 1996. AA

Ireland considered sanctions on Gaddafi's Libya over IRA support but was worried about beef

Ireland had built up a valuable beef export partnership with Libya.

THE IRISH GOVERNMENT considered taking diplomatic action against Libya due to its support of the Provisional IRA but was worried about damaging a valuable trading partnership.

New details about the government’s concerns about Libya’s funding of IRA activities have also been revealed as part of documents from the Department of the Taoiseach released under the 30-year rule.

The documents from 1986, now in the possession of the National Archives, show that Taoiseach Garret Fitzgerald was also concerned that money from Muammar Gaddafi’s regime was “being used for political purposes” in Ireland.

Links between the Provisional IRA and Gaddafi’s Libya have been well established, with the regime believed to have provided the paramilitary group with explosives and weapons at various periods in the 1970s and the 1980s.

Links between Gaddafi and the IRA re-emerged in 1986 after Gaddafi’s adopted daughter was killed along with more than 100 other people by US bombing raids launched from UK bases.

In a meeting between FitzGerald and Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher that took place in June 1986, both expressed concern about the links.

Confidential notes on the meeting show that the Taoiseach spoke about a recent statement a senior Libyan official had made in support of the IRA.

“We have asked the Ambassador to call again – without any real expectation that there will be a retraction,” FitzGerald stated.

This will mean that we must consider next week what steps we are to take. We would need a formal public statement by Jalloud withdrawing the earlier statement of support for the IRA.

30/12/2016 FILE IMAGE Thatcher depressed by Northern violence Fitzgerald and Thatcher spoke about the IRA-Libya relationship. RollingNews.ie RollingNews.ie

FitzGerald also suggested different actions the Irish government could take, but admitted some reservations about the economic impact.

Ireland had built up a trade relationship with Libya in the 1980s that meant the north African nation was the State’s single-biggest market for live cattle.

“Action by us, if that is decided, will be difficult,” Fitzgerald said according to the documents.

We export approximately £30m worth of meat there, equivalent to exports about £1bn from the UK. There may be a question of expulsion of some students or perhaps UN action. But even those would not produce the effect we want.

FitzGerald went on to say that the biggest priority for the government in this regard was to “stop the flow of money from the US and Libya”.

Thatcher noted that the Irish government “have done a fantastic job there” but FitzGerald responded by saying money was still getting through.

“Perhaps the biggest potential source of funds for the IRA is Libya. Some of this is already being used for political purposes in our country,” he said.

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    Mute Duncan Paul
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    Feb 5th 2020, 11:57 AM

    The winds of change

    258
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    Mute WoodlandBard
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    Feb 5th 2020, 12:07 PM

    blowing away Fina Gale,

    312
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    Mute WoodlandBard
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    Feb 5th 2020, 12:08 PM

    @WoodlandBard: … oops, Fine Gale

    105
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    Mute Cynical
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    Feb 5th 2020, 7:56 PM

    @WoodlandBard: “‘Tis a fine gale, but sure ’tis no pool, English!”

    19
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    Mute dublinsnap
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    Feb 5th 2020, 12:39 PM

    There is a storm a coming alright…… A Shinner Storm #timeforchange

    185
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    Mute Graham Crosby
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    Feb 5th 2020, 11:11 PM

    @dublinsnap:

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    Mute Patricia Mc Kenna
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    Feb 5th 2020, 11:52 AM

    Hope it blows ALL the politicians off the isle of Ireland. Wasters

    176
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    Mute Paul Furey
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    Feb 5th 2020, 1:06 PM

    @Patricia Mc Kenna: yawn

    58
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    Mute Charles Coughlan
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    Feb 5th 2020, 12:51 PM

    Hopefully Ciara will wipe out FFG on Saturday.

    109
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    Mute Gavin Tobin
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    Feb 5th 2020, 11:18 AM

    Ooops that wont suit the fogie voters…

    66
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    Mute IRL77
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    Feb 5th 2020, 12:35 PM

    @Gavin Tobin: that’s all the young and foolish people staying at home so….Sinn Fein have just lost half their electorate!

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    Mute Michael Burke
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    Feb 5th 2020, 12:42 PM

    @IRL77: just off for a nap. Thank you, I’ve been having trouble sleeping. Yawn!

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    Mute Stephen
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    Feb 5th 2020, 1:35 PM

    @Michael Burke: keep dreaming folks

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    Mute jnulty17@gmail.com
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    Feb 5th 2020, 6:43 PM

    @IRL77: we will vote why pick in us older more like it will affect

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    Mute Anthony Doyle
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    Feb 5th 2020, 10:04 PM

    @Stephen: nightmaring

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    Mute Sportmad
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    Feb 5th 2020, 12:56 PM

    Dont you just live the FINE GAEL colours of the storm you could not make it up..
    There will be a storm alright blowing them out of Government from what I can see and hear..

    51
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    Mute Ciaran Farrelly
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    Feb 5th 2020, 11:49 AM

    Haha, another storm in tea cup.

    35
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    Mute jamesdecay
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    Feb 5th 2020, 12:13 PM

    Blustery. Windy. Wet. Miserable.

    But hey. Enough about Irish politics! What’s the weather like?

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    Mute Sharp Elsi Mate
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    Feb 5th 2020, 2:03 PM

    Its amazing the difference this will actually make to the voting. Id swear FG planned this. The SF vote will take as much battering as the trees will as Jockser & the boys wont walk out in the rain to vote……..

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    Mute Dorothy Giselsson
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    Feb 5th 2020, 12:51 PM

    Great day for the drying.

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    Mute MrsWoman
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    Feb 5th 2020, 2:33 PM

    @Dorothy Giselsson: Except for the rain part

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    Mute TouchingCloth
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    Feb 5th 2020, 7:27 PM

    The weather won’t suit those who buy their sliced pan in their jim jams…

    23
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    Mute Ciaran Coye
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    Feb 5th 2020, 10:29 PM

    @TouchingCloth: And usually with their palm in their Jim jams.

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    Mute Paul Cullen
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    Feb 5th 2020, 1:41 PM

    Vote SF Ciara….

    23
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    Mute talksense
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    Feb 5th 2020, 5:58 PM

    @Paul Cullen: what sane person would vote SF

    51
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    Mute Michael Graham
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    Feb 5th 2020, 7:29 PM

    Big storm already for Sinn Fein Mary Lou falling over herself With her minister for finance in the north Let’s not forget a young man was murdered in terrible circumstances

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    Mute Mike Ruddy
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    Feb 5th 2020, 9:43 PM

    @Michael Graham: Let’s not forget over 4,000 homeless children in Ireland. Vote SF to give Irish citizens hope!

    26
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    Mute Terry Larkin
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    Feb 6th 2020, 11:04 AM

    @Mike Ruddy: Don’t make me laugh! There are 20,000 homeless in Northern Ireland but SF were too busy grandstanding about the Irish Language to do anything about them for the past 3 years!

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    Mute Jim Sullivan
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    Feb 5th 2020, 12:39 PM

    Okay let’s all vote for Clara on Saturday and hopefully all the candidates in the election will get a good shaking up.

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    Mute Brian Ó Dálaigh
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    Feb 5th 2020, 6:50 PM

    @Jim Sullivan: did the wind blow your finger from i to l?

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    Mute Jim Sullivan
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    Feb 5th 2020, 7:08 PM

    @Brian Dálaigh.Well doesn’t a slip of
    the finger change change a word.Bless your observance. Perhaps you might have a comment on the actual article.

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    Mute Brian Ó Dálaigh
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    Feb 5th 2020, 8:31 PM

    @Jim Sullivan: ah jaysus, just having a bit of fun. I’ve been known for my own faux pas. It wasn’t a dig at your spelling. I’ve often had my own misspellings.just making light of it.

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    Mute Jim Sullivan
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    Feb 6th 2020, 10:28 AM

    @Brian Ó Dálaigh: Ok Brian.Comment taken as you intended.No problem.I do know that there are commentators that get great satisfaction from bringing to attention the grammatical mistakes of others on this forum.Hope you have a good day.

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    Mute Dave O'Keeffe
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    Feb 5th 2020, 12:35 PM

    Hear that Conor? Go easy on the box kicks now will ya?

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    Mute ed w
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    Feb 5th 2020, 11:54 AM

    bit o rain

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    Mute Paul Furey
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    Feb 5th 2020, 1:06 PM

    @ed w: yeah this is called a weather forecast.

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    Mute Garreth Byrne
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    Feb 5th 2020, 11:21 AM

    Rainswept political squalls ahead so.

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    Mute PMBinARG
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    Feb 5th 2020, 9:47 PM

    Hopefully Ciara will blow Leo away…

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    Mute Martina Kealy
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    Feb 5th 2020, 2:20 PM

    Speedy election with plenty of gusto. We’ll be blown into the polling stations wearing fashionable suits and dresses.

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    Mute Tyrone Williams
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    Feb 5th 2020, 6:54 PM

    Bad weather means mostly the looney left and right will come out to vote. You want change? Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it!

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    Mute Ken Curran
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    Feb 5th 2020, 11:18 PM

    What have strong winds on Sunday got to do with counting the votes?

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    Mute Kayleigh Corcoran
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    Feb 5th 2020, 8:58 PM

    Storm Mary-Lou would be more fitting

    3
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    Mute mike
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    Feb 5th 2020, 9:18 PM

    Holy Fc u. k.. winter brings winter weather.

    I for one welcome our new winter overlords.

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    Mute thomas patrick
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    Feb 5th 2020, 8:15 PM

    Poll: is it possible for irish people to not turn every story into a “joke” about politicians
    1. No
    2. No
    3. F off

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    Mute Joe Kennedy
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    Feb 6th 2020, 2:25 AM

    @thomas patrick: put me down for number 3 there Tom.

    8
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