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/news/uk-northern-ireland-18984547#sa-ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=PublicRSS20-sa

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Smithwick Tribunal: Unnamed Garda officer 'was IRA source' Smithwick Tribunal: Unnamed Garda officer 'was IRA source'
(about 3 hours later)
The PSNI has been accused of doing "a shameful injustice" to a former garda for only revealing key intelligence to a Dublin tribunal in its "dying days".The PSNI has been accused of doing "a shameful injustice" to a former garda for only revealing key intelligence to a Dublin tribunal in its "dying days".
The Smithwick Tribunal is investigating allegations of Irish police collusion in the murders of two RUC officers.The Smithwick Tribunal is investigating allegations of Irish police collusion in the murders of two RUC officers.
Five items of intelligence were presented to the tribunal by PSNI Det Chief Supt Roy McComb on Wednesday.Five items of intelligence were presented to the tribunal by PSNI Det Chief Supt Roy McComb on Wednesday.
One claimed a Garda officer previously not associated with the tribunal gave the IRA information on the two RUC men.One claimed a Garda officer previously not associated with the tribunal gave the IRA information on the two RUC men.
The tribunal which was established in 2005 to investigate allegations of Irish police (Garda)/IRA collusion in the murders of Chief Superintendent Harry Breen and Superintendent Bob Buchanan of the Royal Ulster Constabulary.The tribunal which was established in 2005 to investigate allegations of Irish police (Garda)/IRA collusion in the murders of Chief Superintendent Harry Breen and Superintendent Bob Buchanan of the Royal Ulster Constabulary.
The officers - the most senior to be murdered during the Troubles - were shot dead in south Armagh as they returned from a meeting with Irish police at Dundalk Garda station in March 1989.The officers - the most senior to be murdered during the Troubles - were shot dead in south Armagh as they returned from a meeting with Irish police at Dundalk Garda station in March 1989.
'Officer paid off''Officer paid off'
The collusion allegations have been focused on three former detective sergeants in Dundalk - Owen Corrigan, Leo Colton and Finbarr Hickey.The collusion allegations have been focused on three former detective sergeants in Dundalk - Owen Corrigan, Leo Colton and Finbarr Hickey.
Significant intelligence revealed by the PSNI on Wednesday morning stated that none of those officers were involved in the murders of the two RUC officers, but that another garda had been paid "a considerable amount of finance" for passing information to the IRA regarding the officers.Significant intelligence revealed by the PSNI on Wednesday morning stated that none of those officers were involved in the murders of the two RUC officers, but that another garda had been paid "a considerable amount of finance" for passing information to the IRA regarding the officers.
The legal representative for Mr Corrigan said the PSNI had "hung Owen Corrigan out to dry" by revealing an RUC document from 1985 that named his client as someone who had colluded with the IRA, but failing to reveal until now the other intelligence.The legal representative for Mr Corrigan said the PSNI had "hung Owen Corrigan out to dry" by revealing an RUC document from 1985 that named his client as someone who had colluded with the IRA, but failing to reveal until now the other intelligence.
Four other items of intelligence were presented to the tribunal by PSNI Det Chief Supt Roy McComb.Four other items of intelligence were presented to the tribunal by PSNI Det Chief Supt Roy McComb.
The items indicated that a garda, now retired, also provided information to the IRA in relation to the murder of County Louth farmer Tom Oliver, and that the officer was handled as a source by a senior member of PIRA.The items indicated that a garda, now retired, also provided information to the IRA in relation to the murder of County Louth farmer Tom Oliver, and that the officer was handled as a source by a senior member of PIRA.
Mr Oliver, from the Cooley peninsula near Dundalk, was murdered by the IRA in 1991, who claimed he gave information to the Garda.Mr Oliver, from the Cooley peninsula near Dundalk, was murdered by the IRA in 1991, who claimed he gave information to the Garda.
'Criminal helped IRA''Criminal helped IRA'
Further intelligence presented to the tribunal on Wednesday suggested that a criminal from the border area was also involved in targeting the murdered RUC officers.Further intelligence presented to the tribunal on Wednesday suggested that a criminal from the border area was also involved in targeting the murdered RUC officers.
The final piece of intelligence said that a former Garda officer, Jim Lane based in Dundalk, frequently expressed concerns that fellow officers Finbarr Hickey, Leo Colton and Owen Corrigan "had unethical relationships with PIRA members in the border area".The final piece of intelligence said that a former Garda officer, Jim Lane based in Dundalk, frequently expressed concerns that fellow officers Finbarr Hickey, Leo Colton and Owen Corrigan "had unethical relationships with PIRA members in the border area".
The intelligence was received by the PSNI and/or the British Security Services from multiple sources during the course of the tribunal.The intelligence was received by the PSNI and/or the British Security Services from multiple sources during the course of the tribunal.
It was presented in summary form and although persons referred to in the intelligence may be known by the PSNI, their identities were not revealed to the tribunal.It was presented in summary form and although persons referred to in the intelligence may be known by the PSNI, their identities were not revealed to the tribunal.
The legal representative for the Breen family John McBurney said "the newly introduced intelligence raises many concerns and opens up additional lines of enquiry at a very late stage indeed.
"We now have a truly bewildering and alarming array of collusion pointers. Urgent work will be needed to unravel the tangled strands now exposed".