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

Sinn Féin TD Padraig MacLochlainn says he was "stitched up" on a recent appearance on Tonight with Vincent Browne on TV3.

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.

The State could face civil lawsuits from the families of the two murdered RUC officers following the damning Smithwick Report which found gardaí colluded with the IRA in their brutal killings.

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.

Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams was left isolated tonight after he claimed two of the most senior RUC officers killed by the IRA had only themselves to blame.

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

Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan has said he is horrified by the findings of Garda collusion in the murders of two senior RUC officers in 1989.

Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams has claimed two RUC officers murdered in an IRA ambush following a tip-off from a terrorist mole in An Garda Síochána "disregarded their own safety".

Justice Minister Alan Shatter has denied that the reputation of An Garda Síochána has been damaged as a result of the findings of the Smithwick Tribunal.

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.

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

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.

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.

The families of the two most senior RUC officers killed in the Troubles have been failed by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), it has been claimed.

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.

British security services tried to frame a Garda sergeant over the murder of two senior police officers from the North to distract attention from their own collusion, an inquiry has heard.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has branded the apology Gerry Adams issued over the murder of Garda Jerry McCabe as “ironic”.

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

Senior gardaí passed sensitive information to members of the Provisional IRA (Pira) during the Troubles, a major collusion inquiry has been told.

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 former head of the Irish Republic’s forensic state laboratory has said he is surprised no-one was ever prosecuted for the IRA killing of 18 British soldiers.

A former Garda officer alleged to have been suspicious that three of his colleagues colluded with the IRA has claimed he cannot recall rumours that they were linked to subversives.

Police on both sides of the Irish border must launch fresh investigations into the murder of two top RUC officers following intelligence reports of Garda collusion in the killings, the family of one of the men has said.

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.

The North's Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness has offered to testify at a tribunal where it was claimed he was involved in the IRA sanctioning the murders of two RUC officers.

The North's Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness has denied any involvement in the IRA sanctioning an operation to abduct, torture and murder two of the most senior RUC officers killed in the Troubles.

Gardaí were ordered by a former Taoiseach not to cooperate with an investigation into the IRA killing of 18 British soldiers because of paratroopers’ involvement in the Bloody Sunday shootings in Derry, it was claimed tonight.

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 British agent who infiltrated the IRA has claimed today that a convicted bomb-maker was also a secret informer.

A former British double agent in the IRA has denied being a pathological liar over claims a suspected Garda mole destroyed evidence from one of the worst atrocities in the Troubles.

A British agent who infiltrated the IRA revealed there was not a day when the terror group was not trying to kill a member of the security forces.

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

The Smithwick Tribunal will today hear evidence from Michael McKevitt, who is serving a 20-year sentence for directing terrorism and membership of the Real IRA.

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.

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.