Closer ties with Britain urged over threat of nuclear war

THE spectre of nuclear fallout and how Ireland could survive it, included Irish Intelligence plans in 1981 for closer alliance with Britain should war break out with the Soviets.

Met Éireann files released under the 30-year rule show the issue of radiation over Ireland was pre-occupying authorities from the mid 1950s.

A note from February 1981 marked ‘secret’ and drafted by the intelligence section of Irish Air Headquarters, urged closer cooperation with Britain in the event of potential nuclear catastrophe.