This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-northern-ireland-13715484
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Ex-RUC officers at Breen/Buchanan inquiry in Dublin | Ex-RUC officers at Breen/Buchanan inquiry in Dublin |
(40 minutes later) | |
An inquiry investigating allegations of collusion over the murder of two RUC officers has been told they were asked not to cross the border to attend a meeting with Irish police in 1989. | |
A former assistant chief constable, who cannot be named, told the Smithwick Tribunal that Harry Breen and Bob Buchanan went to meet gardai anyway. | |
They were shot by the IRA on their way back. | |
The inquiry is investigating alleged collusion between the gardai and IRA. | |
Earlier on Thursday the inquiry heard evidence that Chief Supt Breen and Supt Buchanan met gardai 10 times the month before they died. | |
A former officer, known as witness 6, told the tribunal that one of his colleagues, witness 18, had expressed concerns about the number of times the officers had visited Dundalk. | |
The inquiry heard that the increase in frequency meant there was an increase in risk. | The inquiry heard that the increase in frequency meant there was an increase in risk. |
The tribunal was also told that the IRA was highly effective in intelligence gathering. | The tribunal was also told that the IRA was highly effective in intelligence gathering. |
On Tuesday, the inquiry's legal team revealed that it had had a face-to-face meeting with three former members of the Provisional IRA in recent weeks. | On Tuesday, the inquiry's legal team revealed that it had had a face-to-face meeting with three former members of the Provisional IRA in recent weeks. |
The tribunal was told the IRA members, one of whom had a command role in the attack, gave detailed accounts and replied to questions from the inquiry team. | The tribunal was told the IRA members, one of whom had a command role in the attack, gave detailed accounts and replied to questions from the inquiry team. |
The inquiry, which has a November deadline for completion, is due to hear evidence from 214 witnesses including former RUC Special Branch officers, DUP MP Jeffrey Donaldson and journalists Kevin Myers and Toby Harndon. | The inquiry, which has a November deadline for completion, is due to hear evidence from 214 witnesses including former RUC Special Branch officers, DUP MP Jeffrey Donaldson and journalists Kevin Myers and Toby Harndon. |