State Papers 1987: Thatcher criticised Haughey over lack of terrorist extraditions

The British PM hit out over cases that collapsed in the Irish courts, writes Seán MacCárthaigh

The British prime minister Margret Thatcher expressed anger at the taoiseach Charles Haughey over the lack of extradition of terrorist suspects from Ireland to the UK when the two political leaders met on the fringes of an EU summit in Copenhagen in 1987.

State records released under the 30-year rule show Ms Thatcher criticised Mr Haughey during a 30-minute meeting on December 4, 1987 for how several extradition cases had collapsed in the Irish courts for what the British regarded as “frivolous” reasons.