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Smithwick Tribunal: Murders report poses Irish challenge Smithwick Tribunal: Murders report poses Irish challenge
(about 1 hour later)
Irish police collusion in the murders of two Northern Ireland policemen poses a "serious challenge" to the Irish government, unionists have said.Irish police collusion in the murders of two Northern Ireland policemen poses a "serious challenge" to the Irish government, unionists have said.
The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) was reacting to the findings of the Smithwick Tribunal public inquiry.The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) was reacting to the findings of the Smithwick Tribunal public inquiry.
The report said Irish police colluded in the shooting of Ch Supt Harry Breen and Supt Bob Buchanan in 1989.The report said Irish police colluded in the shooting of Ch Supt Harry Breen and Supt Bob Buchanan in 1989.
The DUP's Arlene Foster said the Irish government must do more to acknowledge its failures in preventing terrorism.The DUP's Arlene Foster said the Irish government must do more to acknowledge its failures in preventing terrorism.
'Wrongdoing''Wrongdoing'
"Judge Smithwick poses a serious challenge to the Irish government that it must tackle the culture of failing adequately to address suggestions of wrongdoing from within that state," she said."Judge Smithwick poses a serious challenge to the Irish government that it must tackle the culture of failing adequately to address suggestions of wrongdoing from within that state," she said.
"All too often, we have seen the Irish government call for investigations into events in Northern Ireland, but take grave offence at suggestions of wrongdoing from within their state.""All too often, we have seen the Irish government call for investigations into events in Northern Ireland, but take grave offence at suggestions of wrongdoing from within their state."
Ch Supt Harry Breen and Supt Bob Buchanan were shot dead in an ambush in March 1989 in south Armagh. The attack happened as they crossed the border into Northern Ireland after a meeting in Dundalk Garda station. Ch Supt Harry Breen and Supt Bob Buchanan were shot dead in an IRA ambush in March 1989 in south Armagh. The attack happened as they crossed the border into Northern Ireland after a meeting in Dundalk Garda station.
The Smithwick Tribunal was set up by the Irish government in 2005 to investigate claims that officers based in Dundalk Garda (police) station had assisted the IRA gang who ambushed the two officers on 20 March 1989.
In the report of his inquiry, Judge Peter Smithwick said he was "satisfied there was collusion in the murders".In the report of his inquiry, Judge Peter Smithwick said he was "satisfied there was collusion in the murders".
Following the publication of the report on Tuesday, two Irish cabinet minsters apologised on behalf of the state for the failings outlined in the tribunal's report.Following the publication of the report on Tuesday, two Irish cabinet minsters apologised on behalf of the state for the failings outlined in the tribunal's report.
Irish deputy prime minister Eamon Gilmore said he was "appalled and saddened" by the finding. Irish Justice Minister Alan Shatter apologised on behalf of the state to the Breen and Buchanan families. Irish deputy prime minister Eamon Gilmore said he was "appalled and saddened" by the finding. Irish Justice Minister Alan Shatter apologised unreservedly to the Breen and Buchanan families for the state's failings.
Ms Foster said: "I welcome the fact that there have been swift apologies from within the Irish government following the publication of the report.Ms Foster said: "I welcome the fact that there have been swift apologies from within the Irish government following the publication of the report.
"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.""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."
Northern Ireland Justice Minister David Ford said it was a damning report. But he said it did not suggest there was "sympathetic consideration for the IRA generally within the Gardaí".
He said he had been speaking on Monday evening to the Irish justice minister, Mr Shatter.
"What is clear is we have the opportunity to ensure that we get matters on to the proper footing. We are determined to continue the good cooperation that we have. We are determined to ensure that it does not happen again," he told BBC NI's Good Morning Ulster on Wednesday.
The PSNI said its investigation was still open and it would take time to study the Smithwick report in detail. The head of the Irish police, Commissioner Martin Callinan, said his senior officers would also examine the findings carefully.The PSNI said its investigation was still open and it would take time to study the Smithwick report in detail. The head of the Irish police, Commissioner Martin Callinan, said his senior officers would also examine the findings carefully.
However, Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams said some of the judge's findings appeared to be contradictory. He said people would make up their own minds when they read it. However, Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams said some of Judge Smithwick's findings appeared to be contradictory. He said people would make up their own minds when they read it.
"On the one hand, the judge says he has not uncovered direct evidence of collusion and then goes on to say, on the balance of probability, some form may have occurred. So we have to read all of this and study it," he said."On the one hand, the judge says he has not uncovered direct evidence of collusion and then goes on to say, on the balance of probability, some form may have occurred. So we have to read all of this and study it," he said.
The Smithwick Tribunal was set up by the Irish government in 2005 to investigate claims that officers based in Dundalk Garda (police) station had assisted the IRA gang who ambushed the two officers on 20 March 1989. 'Soft collusion'
Chief Supt Breen and Supt Buchanan were shot dead in their police car in south Armagh, shortly after leaving a meeting with gardaí at the Dundalk station. Fianna Fáil justice spokesman Niall Collins said this was a "no holes barred" report and represented a vindication of the previous Irish government's decision to establish the Smithwick tribunal.
He rejected suggestions that there was any widespread form of "soft collusion" between IRA and the Irish police force, an Garda Siochana.
"As an Irish republican myself, the Irish people repudiated what the Provisional IRA stood for and their actions.
"Unfortunately, a small number of people let down An Garda Siochána, the force, and the Irish people.
In his final report, Judge Smithwick said there was "no smoking gun" but the circumstances suggested that information was leaked to trigger the IRA operation.In his final report, Judge Smithwick said there was "no smoking gun" but the circumstances suggested that information was leaked to trigger the IRA operation.
He concluded that the timing suggested it was "more likely that the information came from Dundalk Garda station", but there was insufficient evidence to say who that was.He concluded that the timing suggested it was "more likely that the information came from Dundalk Garda station", but there was insufficient evidence to say who that was.
The judge also criticised two earlier garda investigations into the RUC murders, which he described as "inadequate".The judge also criticised two earlier garda investigations into the RUC murders, which he described as "inadequate".
He said the culture of failing to adequately address suggestions of wrongdoing, either for reasons of political expediency or by virtue of misguided loyalty, had been "a feature of life in this state".He said the culture of failing to adequately address suggestions of wrongdoing, either for reasons of political expediency or by virtue of misguided loyalty, had been "a feature of life in this state".
He described senior police officers' denial of a mole at that time as "political expediency" at the expense of the men who had been murdered.He described senior police officers' denial of a mole at that time as "political expediency" at the expense of the men who had been murdered.
The Smithwick Report said the IRA wanted to interrogate Ch Supt Breen to find out how the security forces in Northern Ireland got advance knowledge of a planned IRA attack at Loughgall in May 1987, when the SAS shot dead eight IRA members and a civilian.The Smithwick Report said the IRA wanted to interrogate Ch Supt Breen to find out how the security forces in Northern Ireland got advance knowledge of a planned IRA attack at Loughgall in May 1987, when the SAS shot dead eight IRA members and a civilian.
Ch Supt Breen had been pictured with IRA weapons captured after that operation.Ch Supt Breen had been pictured with IRA weapons captured after that operation.
The report reveals that there were three aborted attempts to carry out the gun attack on the two senior police officers before the day of the actual shooting.The report reveals that there were three aborted attempts to carry out the gun attack on the two senior police officers before the day of the actual shooting.
It says an Army unit was dug in near the site of the ambush for a week before the shooting which happened hours after soldiers had withdrawn.It says an Army unit was dug in near the site of the ambush for a week before the shooting which happened hours after soldiers had withdrawn.
It says up to 70 IRA members were involved in several teams covering four potential routes that could have been taken by the two senior police officers.It says up to 70 IRA members were involved in several teams covering four potential routes that could have been taken by the two senior police officers.