Garda chief horrified at report outcome

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.

Chief Supt Harry Breen and Supt Bob Buchanan were gunned down on Mar 20, 1989, near the border in south Armagh, shortly after a meeting with gardaí in Dundalk, Co Louth.

Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan said the Smithwick Tribunal had identified a betrayal from within the force.

“It’s a source of great disappointment that no one has been made amenable to date for their cowardly murders,” said Mr Callinan.

“These were colleagues of ours who were travelling to Dundalk Garda Station to take part in discussions with our colleagues in relation to very serious policing and security matters.

“I’m horrified that any member of the An Garda Síochána would be involved in colluding with the IRA. I accept the conclusions arrived at by the chairman of the tribunal.

“To think that any member of my force would engage with the IRA at any level is beyond comprehension.

“And to betray both themselves and my organisation in such a fashion is beyond me.”

As well as confirming long-held suspicions of the IRA mole in Dundalk station, Judge Peter Smithwick said there was collusion in the killings, but was unable to point the finger at an individual and said he suspects there could have been another person passing information to the IRA.

He also accused current Garda chiefs of trying to protect the reputation of the force by undermining a retired superintendent who testified that he passed intelligence on a death threat against Mr Buchanan to the highest ranks in the force the year before the attack.

The IRA are thought to have been tipped off about the RUC officers’ meeting in Dundalk at about 11.30 on the morning of the ambush.

The information came from inside Dundalk Garda Station, the judge found.

Within about three hours the ambush had been set up and carried out, with Mr Breen shot as he tried to surrender and Mr Buchanan killed at the driver’s seat.

Meanwhile, Mr Callinan said it was “unfortunate” that Judge Smithwick found that the force had tried to undermine a superintendent who gave evidence about a death threat against Mr Buchanan in the year before the attack.