Collusion claims must be examined

ALLEGATIONS relating to the fatal shooting of the first garda killed during the Northern Troubles raise the spectre of possible collusion by the State in terrorist activities as far back as the early ’70s.

With the issue of collusion under the spotlight on both sides of the Border, it may be timely to examine the circumstances surrounding the death of Garda Richard Fallon, who was gunned down in 1970 as he chased members of Saor Éire, a breakaway republican group, following an armed robbery of a bank in central Dublin.

It was the height of the gunrunning crisis and Finian Fallon shares former Justice Minister Des O’Malley’s belief that his father was murdered with a weapon that was a part of an alleged illegal arms shipment.

Apart from sending out a formal receipt, Justice Minister Michael McDowell stands accused of ignoring Mr Fallon’s request for an inquiry.

Regardless of the passage of time, it behoves the minister to communicate with Mr Fallon concerning his father’s death.