How We Mobilised the Defence Force to Keep Idi Amin at Bay
By Andrew Bushe
THE prospect of Ugandan dictator Idi Amin arriving here on his way to gatecrash Commonwealth summit in London caused consternation in June 1977, with troops and extra gardai being drafted in to man all the airports.
Ministers interrupted a cabinet meeting to decide that airport authorities should be instructed not to permit his plane to land except in case of emergency for refuelling.
If the aircraft did land, the pilot was to be ordered to taxi to a remote part of the airport and informed that the government would not allow anyone to leave or join the plane.
The cabinet minutes for June 7, made public by the National Archives today, show the government decided an adequate Army presence should be provided at the airports to enforce this decision, if necessary.
Previously confidential files from the Gardas Security Department also reveal that reinforcements under the command of an Assistant Commissioner were called in to man the three main airports in preparation for the expected visit of General Amin.
A statement said the government had been alerted at the cabinet meeting that the dictators plane was approaching Dublin Airport.
No notice had been given to the Irish authorities of General Amins intention to come to this country, it said.
The minister for justice, after consultations with the minister for foreign affairs, signed an exclusion order under the 1935 Aliens Act.
The order prohibited Idi Amin, a citizen of Uganda, and all other aliens accompanying him from landing in or entering the State.
Ugandan radio had apparently announced that Ireland was among the possible stopovers for the general that included France, Germany and an Arab country.
A year earlier Britain had broken off diplomatic relations with Amins regime.
Subsequently, Amin, who was ridiculed as a clown and buffoon in the West, declared that he had beaten the British and conferred upon himself the title of CBE (Conqueror of the British Empire).
British prime minister James Callaghan had made it clear that Amin would not be welcome at the London summit.
However, for months Amin had let it be known he intended to travel and bring a retinue of 250, including a dance troupe called Heartbeat of Africa.
He felt certain that Queen Elizabeth would be terribly disappointed if he stayed away. The prospect of his arrival here attracted a large media presence from Britain and other parts of Europe, who watched the skies all day.
Film crews and about 70 journalists apparently went on high alert in the mid-afternoon when teenage plane-spotters at Dublin Airport told them that they had monitored a Uganda 345 call sign on airline frequencies.
The bizarre day of Amin alert at the airports dominated newspaper front pages, with headlines such as Big Daddy laughs it up!, Misunderstanding or huge hoax?, Amins plane not among the UFOs and Amin still in Libya.
The behaviour of Amin, who took power in a military coup in 1971, had by this time become increasingly eccentric and brutal.
Known as the Butcher of Uganda, he was an international pariah after murdering tens of thousands of opponents and his expulsion of Ugandas Asian community.
1977: A YEAR OF THE TROUBLES AND STRIFE
IRELAND gets 200-mile fishing zone Official Sinn Fein changes its name to Sinn Fein The Workers Party.
ICTU ratifies national wage agreement Fisheries minister Paddy Donegan bans trawlers over 110-feet long from fishing within 50 miles of the coast
FORMER NI premier Brian Faulkner, is killed when he is thrown from his horse. Foreign Minister Garret FitzGerald meets U.S. President Jimmy Carter about stopping U.S. cash flow to Provisional IRA.
PROVISIONAL IRA prisoners end 47-day hunger strike in the Curragh.
Workers get representation on semi-State boards like Aer Lingus and the ESB.
PROVISIONAL IRA claims it has killed British army officer Captain Robert Nairac.
Five soldiers killed by shrapnel in the Glen of Imaal in the worst military accident since a landmine accident killed 16 officers in 1941.
FIANNA Fail sweeps to power in general election with promises of higher public spending and big tax cuts.
The Brendan Voyage comes to an end in Newfoundland having followed the legendary 4,000-mile journey of sixth-century monks in a leather currach.
MERVYN Taylor becomes the first Jewish person to be elected chairman of Dublin County Council. Jack Lynch becomes Taoiseach and Garret FitzGerald and Frank Cluskey become leaders of their parties.
IN MAJOR statement, U.S. President Jimmy Carter recognises that the Republic has role in any NI settlement. Geldofs Boomtown Rats have first Top Ten hit with Looking After Number One.
SENATOR Conor Cruise OBrien says majority do not want Irish unity and resigns from the Labour Party two days later.
Health Minister Charlie Haughey, pictured, brings in new social welfare system based on PRSI
SEAMUS Costello, founder and chairman of the Irish Republican Socialist Party, is shot dead in Dublin.
Commission of inquiry set up into alleged Garda Heavy Gang
AFTER Ferenka strike in Limerick, steelcord plant is shut down with the loss of 1,400 jobs. Go-ahead given for giant Alcan alumina plant at Aughinish Island in Limerick.
NORTHERN peace movement leaders Mairead Corrigan and Betty Williams, pictured, receive Nobel Peace prize in Oslo. Ten junior ministers appointed for the first time as parliamentary secretaries are done away with.
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