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MI5 Rejects Ahern's Request for Sellafield Threat Intelligence

12/30/2025

Summary

Story summary

MI5 declined Bertie Ahern, the former Irish Prime Minister, for intelligence sharing on threats to Sellafield.
After the 2004 Madrid train bombing, Ahern warned Prime Minister Tony Blair about a potential transnational catastrophe.
Blair said he would protect UK intelligence sources and would offer only a briefing if threats emerged.
The British ambassador said renewed Irish focus on Sellafield stemmed from better UK-Ireland relations after the Good Friday Agreement.

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Story summary

MI5 declined Bertie Ahern, the former Irish Prime Minister, for intelligence sharing on threats to Sellafield.
After the 2004 Madrid train bombing, Ahern warned Prime Minister Tony Blair about a potential transnational catastrophe.
Blair said he would protect UK intelligence sources and would offer only a briefing if threats emerged.
The British ambassador said renewed Irish focus on Sellafield stemmed from better UK-Ireland relations after the Good Friday Agreement.