Irish police feared for Pope's safety in 1979

Irish police feared extremists could try to assassinate Pope John Paul II on his landmark visit in 1979, according to previously secret files made public y.

A previously secret police memo on the security risks made public by Ireland's National Archives Office says the threat came from "subversives" who are not identified.

The file shows initial fears centred on the Aer Lingus Boeing 747 that flew the Pope from Rome in case it could be sabotaged, hijacked or attacked while in the air.

The memo from the Gardai (police) said all of the outdoor appearances of the Pope "pose sizeable security problems in that he could be targeted in a variety of ways".

The memo says all measures which are "reasonable and practical" will be implemented to "deter, detect and prevent" any hostile activities against the Pope.

"It must be borne in mind, however, that if desperate persons plan to kill the Pope, then no security measures which the Gardai could implement would guarantee the Pope's safety.

"There is no such thing as absolute security. All that the Gardai can do is aim for optimum security."

The memo says the Pope was at greatest risk from a sniper attack during motorcades. A "personal attack" was most likely either on a motorcade or when he was meeting people at venues.

Bombs could also be placed at venues with the "object of killing the Pope or causing panic in the crowd".

Police said they were trying to obtain large helicopters from the German police to facilitate air coverage and transport a special protection task force from venue to venue.

Huge crowds attended a series of open air masses around the country. Over a million people, roughly a third of the population, attended the first special Mass in the Phoenix Park in Dublin.

The masses presented another security problem for the government which planned a "gaol delivery", or an amnesty for prisoners, which had traditionally been a feature of previous major religious events in the mainly Catholic country.