SF wants Ahern to take EU court action against Britain

Sinn Féin is demanding that the Taoiseach take a case against the British government to the European Court of Human Rights following yesterday's collusion report in the North.

The party is seeking a meeting with Bertie Ahern's officials to discuss the Police Ombudsman's findings about links between the RUC and UVF murderers.

Nuala O'Loan's report says senior RUC Special Branch officers protected a loyalist gang responsible for up to 15 murders because its leader was a paid informer.

Following the publication of an Oireachtas report into the Dublin and Monaghan bombings last October, Mr Ahern said he was considering taking a case to the European courts to challenge London's refusal to hand over intelligence files.

There have long been suspicions that the British security services helped and protected the loyalists who carried out the Dublin/Monaghan attacks in 1974.

Speaking last night, Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness said he was seeking a meeting in Dublin to find out whether the Taoiseach intends to press ahead with European court action in light of yesterday's revelations.