State Papers – 1977: Amin rumour caused panic at Irish airports

CONFIDENTIAL Garda files show about 100 gardaí were put on duty for a surprise landing of General Idi Amin in Ireland.

Pandemonium began when the Cabinet were told, during a morning meeting on June 7, 1976, the Ugandan leader was to land in Ireland ahead of “crashing” a Commonwealth conference in London.

The Government immediately drew up an order forbidding the dictator’s landing as well as the deployment of army and Garda numbers around airports.