The Minister for Justice, Mrs Owen, has signed an agreement with Britain preventing convicted football hooligans from travelling to Ireland for sports fixtures for up two years after their convictions. She said the arrangements, to be introduced on August 1st, would contribute greatly to cooperation between the states in dealing with violence at sporting events.
The agreement does not cover Scottish hooligans, however, and Irish people convicted of public order offences will not face a similar ban from Britain. It is the third such bilateral agreement Britain has made.