image via pixabay.comMary McAleese risked embarrassing the Queen, Gerry Adams admitted Sinn Fein needed to stop attracting 'headbangers', and Mother Theresa asked Aer Lingus to fly her to Ireland for free. They're just some of the revelations made in historical State papers released today.
British government officials were worried Queen Elizabeth would be left red faced if President Mary McAleese personally attended a service remembering the victims of the Oma bombing in 1998, as the monarch would not be making an appearance herself. An Irish diplomat was summoned to London to see if a compromise could be reached between the two governments. In the end, President McAleese did attend.
Other state papers released from the National Archives today and reported in the Irish Examiner claim Gerry Adams admitted during a meeting with the Irish Ambassador to the US in 2001 that Sinn Féin needed to move away from violence and stop attracting it.
While according to the Irish Independent, Mother Teresa wrote to Aer Lingus asking for free flights so she could make a personal visit to Ireland. However, the Department of Foreign Affairs ultimately decided not to get involved as it was a private trip and noted the pro life movement may have been arranging her programme.
