“A huge archive of papers belonging to the late loyalist paramilitary leader turned peacemaker William ‘Plum’ Smith has been sold in a Dublin auction.

And the former Red Hand Commando’s collection – which included documents related to secret loyalist talks with the IRA and letters from American President Bill Clinton – went for nearly twice what the auctioneers had estimated.

Whyte’s had predicted the ex- Progressive Unionist Party chairman’s archive would fetch up between €5,000 and €7,000 but in the end it realised €13,000.”