Tribunal to investigate killing of RUC men in 1989

A tribunal of inquiry is to be set up into the IRA killing of two RUC men in South Armagh in 1989.

Minister for Justice Michael McDowell brought a motion before the Dáil this morning to allow an inquiry into the double-killing of Special Branch officers Harry Breen and Bob Buchanan.

The two died as they returned from a security meeting at Dundalk Garda Station in Co Louth and it has been alleged that a garda tipped off the IRA on the officers' movements.

The public inquiry was recommended by retired Canadian judge Peter Cory in a report presented to the two governments in 2003.

Mr McDowell said: "I challenge people in the IRA and I challenge Sinn Fein here in this House to state clearly that there will be co-operation with this Tribunal.

"They cannot clamour for justice and truth regarding other barbaric acts that Judge Cory has reported on and in respect of which he has recommended tribunals and not co-operate on this one," Mr McDowell said.

He said that he had full confidence that gardai and other State institutions would also assist fully to help shed light on the issue.

He said the terms of reference "provides a mechanism by which the tribunal can report back to the Houses of the Oireachtas, should non-compellable persons decline to co-operate with the tribunal".

This, he said, "

Supporting today's motion, Sinn Fein's leader in the Dáil Caoimhghín Ó'Caoláin said the party favoured a process of truth recovery. "Anyone with relevant information should come forward to assist this inquiry," he added.

But he said it was outrageous there there had still been no public inquiry into the death of Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane or the Dublin and Monaghan bombings.

"There should be no hierarchy of victims," he said. Supporting the motion, Fine Gael's justice spokesman Jim O'Keeffe described the RUC officers as "two brave Irishmen who were set upon by a murderous mob of thugs".

Labour party justice spokesman Joe Costello said: "It is reasonable to expect that all people that can shed light on the issues will come forward and give evidence."

"Sinn Fein and the IRA are the only people who can conclusively determine the outcomes of this Tribunal."

provides an opportunity for formal approaches to be made to the British Government, should the need arise, to seek to secure the co-operation of persons residing in either Britain or Northern Ireland, whether they be British citizens or otherwise." Mr McDowell explained that testimony given to the tribunal could not be used as evidence in a subsequent criminal prosecution. A senior judge will be appointed later today to chair the sworn inquiry. "Nothing less than full co-operation is demanded and nothing less than full co-operation is expected."