A member of the Kilkenny brewing family Smithwicks has been given an OBE by the Queen of England.

In the last 30 years we’ve had a plethora of tribunals, commissions, investigations and reports, so many in fact it is hard to understand why we do not live in a perfect society.

Yesterday’s startling events, Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan’s resignation and Cabinet revelations about widespread Garda telephone bugging, came as close to rendering the acronym GUBU insufficient as any scandal since double-murderer Malcom McArthur was arrested in the home of then attorney general Patrick Connolly in the summer of 1982.

The Smithwick Tribunal’s inability to name the mole in Dundalk Garda Station in March 1989 casts a shadow over every member of the force who served there, says Michael Clifford.

The difference between last week’s big story — Pantigate — and this week’s — the alleged bugging of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission’s (GSOC) office — is about 100 yards.

EVERY now and again, the past rises up to smite the present, and last week presented once such prime example.

The Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams is refusing to answer questions on his comments that two RUC officers were killed by the IRA in 1989 because they had a "laissez-faire attitude" towards security.

Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams yesterday refused to withdraw his comments on the murder of RUC officers Harry Breen and Bob Buchanan saying it was nonsense to suggest he blamed the policemen for their own deaths.

Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams has said it is nonsense to suggest he blamed two of the most senior RUC officers killed by the IRA for their own deaths.

Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore has told the Dáil of the “savage circumstances” surrounding the roadside murders of RUC Chief Supt Harry Breen and Supt Robert Buchanan by an IRA gang who had been assisted by gardaí.

Former Garda sergeant Leo Colton has rejected the Smithwick findings that he was trusted by the Provisional IRA and helped them to get false passports.

The Garda commissioner said he is horrified that a collusion inquiry has found a terrorist mole in the ranks of the force gave the IRA a tip-off that led to the ambush and murder of two RUC officers.

In describing the findings of the Smithwick Tribunal report as “absolutely shocking”, Taoiseach Enda Kenny spoke for the vast majority of the Irish people, north and south.

A former Garda has rejected the findings of a tribunal that he was trusted by Provos and helped members get their hands on false passports

Government ministers have apologised to the families of two senior RUC officers killed by the IRA with the help of at least one or more gardaí.

Judge Peter Smithwick has unleashed a blistering attack on the gardaí — accusing them of prizing loyalty over honesty.

Retired garda sergeant Leo Colton was trusted by Provos and helped members get false passports, the Smithwick Tribunal found.

Evidence shows Owen Corrigan passed information to the IRA — but it cannot be proved he colluded in the murders of Harry Breen and Bob Buchanan, the tribunal found.

Two of the most senior RUC officers murdered by the IRA in the Troubles were ambushed following a leak from a Garda station, a damning report has found.

The long-awaited report into allegations of Garda collusion in the IRA murder of two senior RUC men has been handed over to the Dáil.

A long-awaited report into allegations of Garda collusion in the IRA murder of two senior RUC men will be handed over to the Government today.

A judge has been criticised for seeking discovery of bank statements on what was meant to be the last day of a lengthy inquiry into alleged IRA/Garda collusion.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has hit out at republicans who have refused to give evidence at the Smithwick tribunal into IRA-Garda collusion.

The deadline for an inquiry into alleged Garda and IRA collusion in the murder of two senior RUC officers during the Troubles has been extended.

The Government will consider extending the deadline for an inquiry into alleged Garda collusion with the IRA in the murder of two senior RUC officers during the Troubles.

A former Taoiseach ordered Garda chiefs not to co-operate with an investigation into an IRA attack which killed 18 British soldiers in 1979, it has been alleged at a tribunal.

A Real IRA leader has today denied that he ever had a tip-off from a Garda before his property was searched.

THE high numbers dropping out of college every year has prompted an innovative business student to set up a website to give them insights into every college degree in the country.

There was unease about a suspected IRA mole based in an Garda station when two RUC officers were ambushed by the terror group, an inquiry has heard.

A SENIOR judge probing the murders of two RUC officers has launched a ferocious attack on Justice Minister Alan Shatter.

FURTHER pressure was put on Justice Minister Alan Shatter last night as Judge Smithwick warned his tribunal still needed to hear from 115 witnesses.

Justice minister Alan Shatter has tonight accused Fianna Fáil of risking public confidence in the Smithwick Tribunal by cynically misrepresenting his actions.

A judge heading an inquiry into the murders of two senior RUC officers has launched an attack on the Justice Minister Alan Shatter today for allegedly interfering with the tribunal.

DETAILS of evidence uncovered by the Smithwick Tribunal into the alleged collusion by gardaí and other state officials in the murder of two senior RUC officers in 1989 will be revealed for the first time today.

JUSTICE Minister Alan Shatter pushed through a move to wrap up a long-running inquiry into the killing of two RUC officers, saying closure was needed for the families of the murdered policemen.

A LEGAL battle is brewing over an attempt by the Smithwick Tribunal to force the Government to hand over a confidential Cabinet document.

The tribunal investigating the murder of two senior RUC officers almost 18 years ago has refused to grant legal representation to Freddie Scappaticci.

OPTIMISTICALLY, an issue which has been like a cloud over An Garda Síochána for the better part of 20 years will eventually be resolved by the Smithwick Tribunal, which opened in Dublin yesterday.

THE public inquiry into the IRA murder of two RUC officers in Armagh in 1989 will investigate not only if gardaí colluded in the killings, but whether colleagues turned "a blind eye" to the collusion.

A judge today vowed to do all in his power to ensure witnesses from Britain and Northern Ireland attend his investigation into the IRA murder of two RUC officers.

The Government tonight named a series of new judicial appointments, including a new judge to the Supreme Court.

NIGHTCLUB bosses have welcomed court orders which have allowed their premises to serve drink until 2.30am.

Nightclub bosses have welcomed new court orders which have allowed their premises to serve drink until 2.30am.

A 29-YEAR-OLD man who allegedly circumcised a baby with a razor blade has been remanded in custody to appear before Clover Hill District Court tomorrow.

CHARGES against three people accused of failing to pay speeding fines were dismissed yesterday after a judge accepted the cheques sent to gardaí must have been lost in the post.

GARDAÍ may have to sip pints to prove that underage drinkers are consuming alcohol, a judge has ruled.