Smithwick Probe Told Of RUC Security Fears

Worries about security were voiced in advance of the IRA murder of two senior RUC officers as they returned from a routine meeting with the Gardaí in the border town of Dundalk in 1989.

The two victims were asked not to cross the border to attend what turned out to be a fatal meeting with Irish police in 1989.

This week, an ex-RUC Assistant Chief Constable - who cannot be named - told the Irish Republic's Smithwick Tribunal that the two senior officers, Harry Breen and Bob Buchanan went to meet Gardaí anyway.

The inquiry is investigating alleged collusion between the Gardaí and IRA.

The already controversial probe had already been told that Chief Supt Breen and Supt Buchanan met Gardaí officers no less than 10 times the month before they died, with a former colleague, known as witness 6, telling the tribunal that one of his colleagues, witness 18, had expressed concerns about the number of times the officers had visited Dundalk.

The inquiry heard that the increase in frequency meant there was an increase in risk.

Controversy already surrounds the probe, as it was revealed on Tuesday that the inquiry's legal team had had a face-to-face meeting with three former members of the Provisional IRA in recent weeks.

The tribunal was told the IRA members, one of whom had a 'command role' in the attack, gave detailed accounts and replied to questions from the inquiry team.

It is also controversial because, unlike similar 'open-ended' probes in Northern Ireland, the Dáil has effectively guillotined the inquiry.

Interference

North Antrim MP Ian Paisley has since called upon the Prime Minister to make a personal representation to his counterpart in the Irish Republic not to restrict the operation of the Smithwick Tribunal investigating.

The DUP MP made the call during Prime Ministers Questions in the House or Commons.

Speaking from Westminster Mr Paisley said: "The Prime Minister will be aware of the dastardly murders of Chief Superintendent Harry Breen and Superintendent Bob Buchanan and the inquiry which has been established in consultation between our Government and the Government in the Irish Republic.

"The Prime Minister must ensure that nothing is allowed to impede normal relationships between our two countries through any interference in this tribunal.

"I hope that David Cameron will heed my call to make a personal representation to the Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny and ensure that the Smithwick Tribunal is given whatever time, effort and resources are necessary to get to the truth of what happened on that day.

"There have been repeated calls in the past from the Irish Republic for detailed and wide ranging inquiries into matters which occurred within the United Kingdom and I believe the least we should now be able to expect is that that this inquiry which has already been instituted be allowed to complete its work," he said.

"I would welcome his repetition of the commitment given that there would be no future open-ended inquiries granted by our Government.

"It is deeply unfortunate that the inquiries we have seen within Northern Ireland have been very expensive exercises which did not always investigate all of the circumstances surrounding the events in question.

"This inquiry under Judge Smithwick has so far cost only a fraction of the amount spent within Northern Ireland and it has already been working quite quickly.

"Therefore there is absolutely no need for the kind of interference and pressure placed upon it by the actions of the Irish Government over the last number of weeks, he insisted.

(BMcC/GK)