3 ex-gardaí deny collusion in IRA killings

THREE former gardaí suspected of possible collusion with the IRA have firmly rejected claims that they passed on information which led to the murder of two senior RUC officers in March 1989.

The Smithwick Tribunal yesterday said it would have to investigate the three, including Owen Corrigan, who was identified as the garda in Dundalk suspected of informing the IRA that Chief Superintendent Harry Breen and Supt Bob Buchanan were in the station.

The inquiry also named two other former garda sergeants — Leo Colton and Finbarr Hickey — as being the subject of rumours concerning collusion with republican paramilitaries.