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

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.

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.

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

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".

Disgraced former garda sergeant Finbarr Hickey spent a year behind bars when convicted of signing counterfeit passports that helped IRA figures go on the run.

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.

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 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.

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 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.

A FORMER Assistant Garda Commissioner has failed to appear to give evidence at the Smithwick Tribunal. The tribunal had written to Kevin Carty several times.

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.

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.

The Smithwick Tribunal into suspected Garda-IRA collusion in the murder of two senior RUC officers will not be curtailed, the North's First Minister Peter Robinson has said.

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.

The judge heading an inquiry into suspected Garda-IRA collusion in the murder of two senior RUC officers believes a November deadline is achievable.

The Smithwick Tribunal into allegations that gardaí colluded with the IRA in the murder of two senior RUC officers is to begin hearings in June.

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.

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.

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.

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 tribunal investigating the murder of two senior RUC officers in 1989 will commence its first public sittings in early March.

Investigations into the death of notorious Limerick city criminal and politician, Mikey Kelly, is drawing to a close, writes Jimmy Woulfe Mid-West Correspondent.

SINN FÉIN was yesterday called on to co-operate fully with the tribunal of inquiry investigating allegations of collusion by gardaí in the 1989 IRA ambush of two senior RUC officers.

The Government is reportedly planning to establish a public inquiry in the coming weeks into alleged Garda collusion in the IRA murder of two RUC officers.