Tribunal over murdered RUC officers
Friday, 3 March 2006 22:12
A tribunal into the murder by the IRA of two senior RUC officers 17 years ago has opened in Dublin.
The tribunal, headed by the former President of the District Court, Peter Smithwick, is investigating allegations of garda collusion in the murders.
Chief Superintendent Harry Breen and Superintendent Robert Buchanan had attended an informal meeting with senior gardaí in Dundalk on 20 March, 1989.
They were returning home when they were ambushed and murdered by members of the IRA near the border.
The murder of the two men was one of a number of cases investigated by the Canadian judge, Peter Cory.
In his report, published in December 2003, Judge Cory recommended that a public inquiry be carried out to investigate allegations of garda collusion in their murder.
The tribunal is investigating the possibility that a member of the gardaí informed the IRA of the route the men had planned to take on that day back in 1989.
Judge Smithwick has said that the British government may be asked to ensure co-operation for witnesses outside the State.
Today, the tribunal heard applications for legal representation for the Breen and Buchanan families.
- News At One: John Kilraine reports on the opening of the investigation of allegations concerning the killing of two RUC officers
- Morning Ireland: Mark Hennessy of the Irish Times discusses the background to the murders of RUC officers Harry Breen and Robert Buchanan in 1989 and allegations of garda collusion
- Nine News: Watch the video
- One News: John Kilraine speaks about allegations of garda collusion in the murder of two RUC officers in 1989
