'Shameful' revelation about failed bid to get Irish telecoms firms to block Troubles bombs
The failure by telecoms firms in the Republic of Ireland to block phone signals needed to detonate bombs is a "shameful episode", UUP MLA Doug Beattie has said.
He said the revelation – contained in a newly-declassified document – is further evidence of how the Irish Republic has served as a “safe haven” for those planning attacks in the past.
Among the firms which had resisted taking part in the scheme to block detonation messages was Vodafone, the formerly-confidential document reveals.
Vodafone has told the News Letter: “We have no comment at this time.”
The document dates from January 2005, and has been released by the National Archives of Ireland.
It gives details of how Irish police briefed the justice minister at the time, Michael McDowell, before he was due to meet Northern Ireland secretary Paul Murphy.
In particular the document discussed something called Operation Amber – a project aimed at getting firms to either isolate a specific phone from a network if it was suspected of being used to trigger a bomb, or to withdraw mobile service to the general area where the bomb was believed to be.
However, coverage from service providers can extend both ways across the border, so the relevant mobile phone could “roam” into the Republic if it was blocked in Northern Ireland and remain viable for use.
The briefing note stated: “Unlike their UK counterparts, which were prepared to participate in initial, practical exercises of service withdrawal without legal or financial indemnity, the Irish telecommunications service providers are unwilling to countenance any such action.”
It added: “The Irish telecommunications service providers argue that as they may be required to interrupt network coverage to specified geographical areas, thereby denying service to their customers, they consider that they could only defend this course of action if it is performed under a legal obligation imposed by the state.”
The note said that while the Postal and Telecommunications (Services) Act 1983 allowed the state to direct companies to take action for specific crime-prevention reasons, in early 2005 the attorney general had advised that this law “could not be used in relation to Operation Amber and that new primary legislation would be required”.
The note went on to say that “one of the Irish service providers”, identified as Vodafone, had indicated “it would not countenance developing the capacity to effect the techniques of Operation Amber without full reimbursement by the state”.
Doug Beattie said: "Electronic counter-measures were widely carried by military personnel and police.
"They were mounted in vehicles and were also man-portable…
"That said, given the changing nature of technology and remote signals, Operation Amber may have been needed to be used particularly close to the border.
"Yet again it is disappointing that telecommunication firms in the Irish Republic refused to support this potentially lifesaving operation, even in extremes.
”If anyone needed persuasion as to why terrorists saw the Irish Republic as a safe haven and a friendly place to launch attacks on the UK then they need look no further than this shameful episode.”