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Irish police colluded with IRA over murders of RUC officers, tribunal finds Irish police colluded with IRA over murders of RUC officers, tribunal finds
(about 4 hours later)
A report into the deaths of two of the most senior Royal Ulster Constabulary officers killed during the Troubles has concluded that there was collusion between Irish police officers and the IRA.A report into the deaths of two of the most senior Royal Ulster Constabulary officers killed during the Troubles has concluded that there was collusion between Irish police officers and the IRA.
The Smithwick tribunal, which was set up in 2005 to investigate allegations of collusion by gardaí, or a civilian in the force, has found that members of An Garda Síochána collaborated with the IRA in the north Louth-south Armagh border region to set up the assassination of Chief Supt Harry Breen and Supt Bob Buchanan in March 1989. The RUC policemen were the highest-ranking officers to die at the IRA's hands during the Troubles. The Smithwick tribunal, which was set up in 2005 to investigate allegations of collusion by gardaí, or a civilian in the force, has found that members of An Garda Síochána collaborated with the IRA in the Louth-Armagh border region to set up the assassination of Chief Supt Harry Breen and Supt Bob Buchanan in March 1989. The RUC policemen were the highest-ranking officers to die at the IRA's hands during the Troubles.
Mr Justice Smithwick said that "on the balance of probabilities" collusion did occur but he did not identify any individual member of the Garda.Mr Justice Smithwick said that "on the balance of probabilities" collusion did occur but he did not identify any individual member of the Garda.
Three members of the Garda have repeatedly denied allegations in the Irish media that they played any role in the killings.Three members of the Garda have repeatedly denied allegations in the Irish media that they played any role in the killings.
Breen and Buchanan were shot dead after a leaving a joint top level RUC-Garda conference on security in Dundalk. Top of the agenda of that meeting was discussions on how to target IRA smuggler and then chief of staff of the Provisionals Thomas "Slab" Murphy. Breen and Buchanan were shot dead after a leaving a joint top level RUC-Garda conference on security in Dundalk. It discussed how to target IRA smuggler and then chief of staff of the Provisionals Thomas "Slab" Murphy.
Buchanan's son, William Buchanan, a bank official in Northern Ireland, praised Smithwick's work and said: "The findings are both incredible and shocking and confirm the existence of a mole in Dundalk station. This led to my father's death."Buchanan's son, William Buchanan, a bank official in Northern Ireland, praised Smithwick's work and said: "The findings are both incredible and shocking and confirm the existence of a mole in Dundalk station. This led to my father's death."
Alan Shatter, Ireland's justice minister, apologised on Tuesday for any security failings Irish state forces were guilty of in relation to the double murder.Alan Shatter, Ireland's justice minister, apologised on Tuesday for any security failings Irish state forces were guilty of in relation to the double murder.
"The killings of Harry Breen and Bob Buchanan on the afternoon of 20 March 1989 were two stark examples of the brutality which pervaded this island for many dark years. Both left behind loving families, friends and colleagues. Even with the passage of 24 years and the positive developments which have taken place on the island since, our condemnation of their murder should be as strong today as it was then. I believe that it is important to say immediately, on my own behalf and that of the government, that I apologise without reservation for any failings identified in the report on the part of the state or any of its agencies.""The killings of Harry Breen and Bob Buchanan on the afternoon of 20 March 1989 were two stark examples of the brutality which pervaded this island for many dark years. Both left behind loving families, friends and colleagues. Even with the passage of 24 years and the positive developments which have taken place on the island since, our condemnation of their murder should be as strong today as it was then. I believe that it is important to say immediately, on my own behalf and that of the government, that I apologise without reservation for any failings identified in the report on the part of the state or any of its agencies."
He added: "It is also right today to acknowledge that during the course of the troubles on this island An Garda Síochána in co-operation with their colleagues in Northern Ireland played a vital role in safeguarding the institutions of the state and protecting the people of these islands, sometimes at great cost to individual members. Nothing in the report should detract from that.He added: "It is also right today to acknowledge that during the course of the troubles on this island An Garda Síochána in co-operation with their colleagues in Northern Ireland played a vital role in safeguarding the institutions of the state and protecting the people of these islands, sometimes at great cost to individual members. Nothing in the report should detract from that.
"I have no doubt that the brave men and women of An Garda Síochána down through the years would be as appalled as anyone that any member of the force would betray them and the Irish people by offering assistance to terrorist organisations."I have no doubt that the brave men and women of An Garda Síochána down through the years would be as appalled as anyone that any member of the force would betray them and the Irish people by offering assistance to terrorist organisations.
"Regrettably, to this day the gardaí continue to have to confront the challenge posed by paramilitary organisations who reject the democratic will of the Irish people.They have the full support of myself and the Irish government in discharging that onerous task, in full co-operation with their colleagues in the PSNI.""Regrettably, to this day the gardaí continue to have to confront the challenge posed by paramilitary organisations who reject the democratic will of the Irish people.They have the full support of myself and the Irish government in discharging that onerous task, in full co-operation with their colleagues in the PSNI."
Smithwick and his team have spent years investigating allegations of collusion between the IRA and individual gardai in the 1989 murder. The tribunal heard from 200 witnesses in 122 days since 2005, including testimony from a British double agent within the IRA known as Kevin Fulton, several leading gardaí, a number of ex-RUC colleagues as well as Democratic Unionist MP Jeffrey Donaldson. However, Unionist politicians warned that there could be implications for new talks aimed at resolving some of Northern Ireland's political impasses.
In his evidence Fulton, who comes from the south Armagh area, told the tribunal that an IRA colleague had informed him the organisation knew via a Garda mole about the presence of the RUC officers in the Republic on the day of the killings. Arlene Foster, a Democratic Unionist party minister in Northern Ireland's executive, said: "This must act however as a catalyst for further movement towards acknowledgement by the Irish government of the role played by Dublin in the formation of the IRA and how republican terrorists were able to operate across the border with relative ease."
Theresa Villiers, the Northern Ireland secretary, said she would raise the collusion scandal with the Irish government, adding: "An important point to remember is that levels of co-operation between An Garda Síochána and the PSNI are now at unprecedented levels and are playing a crucial part in combating terrorist attacks in Northern Ireland."
Smithwick and his team have spent years investigating allegations of collusion between the IRA and individual gardai in the 1989 murder. The tribunal has heard from 200 witnesses in 122 days since 2005, including testimony from a British double agent within the IRA known as Kevin Fulton, several leading gardaí and a number of ex-RUC colleagues.
Fulton, who comes from the south Armagh area, told the tribunal that an IRA colleague had informed him the organisation knew via a Garda mole about the presence of the RUC officers in the Irish republic on the day of the killings.
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