State Papers: John Major conceded in 1992 that the IRA could not be defeated

The British prime minister John Major conceded that the Provisional IRA could not be beaten militarily in his first meeting with the newly-elected taoiseach, Albert Reynolds, in late 1992.Picture: Gerry Penny/AFP/Getty

The British prime minister John Major conceded during his first meeting with the newly-elected taoiseach Albert Reynolds in late 1992 that it would be “very difficult” to beat the Provisional IRA militarily.

Confidential State files released by the National Archives reveal how Mr Major shared his pessimistic outlook about a security-only solution to the Troubles in Northern Ireland with his Irish counterpart at a meeting in Downing St on February 26, 1992.