Links forged with Libya, despite IRA connection

THE Government secretly forged trade links with Libya in the 1970s, while privately acknowledging the north African state was arming the IRA.

Confidential documents uncover moves to keep business deals with Colonel Gaddafi’s regime under wraps because of the reaction they would have sparked both in Ireland and Britain.

Senior officials argued it was better to remain friendly with Libya than to risk losing lucrative contracts for the likes of Aer Lingus, according to files just released into the National Archives.