Currie's memoirs aim to set the record straight

A new book on Austin Currie’s cross-border political career will set the record straight on key political events of the time, it was claimed today.

Mr Currie, who uniquely served as a Government minister in the North and in the Republic, said his autobiography will “correct some attempted rewriting of history” of that period.

The SDLP founder member has figured strongly in major political developments since the 1960s including the Civil Rights movement, the Sunningdale executive, the Anglo Irish Agreement and early discussions with Sinn Féin in 1988.

Mr Currie, 65, said his book’s title ‘All Hell Will Break Loose’ refers to his remarks before he was ejected from the Stormont House of Commons on the eve of the Civil Rights movement in 1968.

He said: “This is not a history book but I would think that historians will be interested in the story I have to tell.

“I’ve written about events that nobody else has covered because nobody has had similar experiences.”

He added: “There are a number of disclosures that have not been made public before because nobody has written a book of this nature before.”

The Tyrone native’s 38-year political career included a stint as Minister for Local Government in the short-lived Sunningdale powersharing executive in 1974.

He came south in 1989 and was elected as a Fine Gael TD in Dublin West. He served as junior minister at the departments of Education, Justice and Health in the Rainbow Coalition from 1994-1997.

He unsuccessfully ran for the Presidency in 1990. He lost his Dáil seat in the 2002 General Election and immediately announced his retirement from politics.

Mr Currie said he believes that Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny – who launches his book in Dublin tonight – will be the next Taoiseach.

He said: “I voted for him when I was in the parliamentary party. He is doing a good job and I am confident that he will be the next Taoiseach.”

Mr Currie, who now lives in Co Kildare, remains confident that a political settlement can soon be reached between the political parties in the North.

He said: “Sunningdale was a wasted opportunity and in some respects was a better deal for nationalists than the Good Friday Agreement.

“But I’m pretty confident that agreement will be found again but it will take some time and unfortunately that time will be wasted time.”