However files released to National Archives at Kew, west London, show that Mr Blair rejected his request for intelligence-sharing insisting the UK had to protect the confidentiality of it sources. Instead the Irish leader had to settle for an assurance that the British ambassador would brief his officials if any threat to Sellafield was uncovered. Writing to Mr Blair following the March 2004 coordinated bomb attacks by Islamist extremists on the Madrid commuter network which left 193 dead, Mr Ahern said it underlined the “ruthlessness and determination” of global terrorists. “I understand your concerns to safeguard the integrity of sensitive information about nuclear facilities and the need to guard against detailed information on the design and nature of nuclear facilities falling into dangerous hands. Mr Ahern was still unhappy, complaining that while he understood the need to protect intelligence sources “the protection of the lives and health of our citizens should have priority”.

Source: The Herald December 30, 2025 00:22 UTC