Families of RUC officers may sue the State

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.

As Taoiseach Enda Kenny said he was prepared to meet the families of Chief Supt Harry Breen and Supt Bob Buchanan to discuss the report, their solicitors told the Irish Examiner they could not rule out a claim for compensation through the Irish courts.

“Taking legal action is an option I cannot rule out and will discuss it with the Breen family at some stage. We didn’t discuss it in the past because we had no idea what would be in the final report,” said John McBurney, who represented Harry Breen’s family.