800YR ULSTER 'FRAUD' Pope tricked by king.

Byline: By JENNA SLOAN

NORTHERN Ireland isn't British after all and the English invasion was all down to a sexed-up medieval dossier, an ancient parchment has revealed.

The takeover 800 years ago was against the law and the Queen has no right now to rule Ulster, it claims.

The parchment, known as the Laudabiliter, was issued to King Henry II by Pope Adrian IV in 1171.

When King Henry landed in Waterford, he used the document to convince Church leaders in Ireland that his army was there with the Pope's permission.

But Professor Anne Duggan, a medieval historian from King's College, London, thinks the dossier was altered.

She said: "The Laudabiliter fails to follow the format of almost every other document of its kind during that period. It looks like someone was up to no good."

Prof Duggan claimed that someone was most likely Gerald of Wales, an ambitious 12th century bishop with an eye on promotion.

The Pope's original reply passed through his hands on its way to King Henry, she told BBC's Radio 4.

Gerald knew the Pope had strong reservations about an invasion and urged Henry to exercise restraint.

Knowing the King wanted to crush a potential Irish coup, the bishop doctored the letter so only passages in support of the action were left in.

If it can be proved the document was altered, then the English had no legal right to take over Ireland, and have no historical right to continue governing Ulster.

One historian said: "It's so long ago it's now meaningless to everyone except researchers.

"It's not like the Government will pull the troops out on the strength of this document."

Voice of the Mirror: Page 6

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DUPED: Pope Adrian, left, and King Henry