Fianna Fáil Justice Spokesperson Niall Collins TD has responded to the publication of the Smithwick Report, saying that it highlighted a sickening betrayal on the part of someone within Dundalk Garda Station. He called on members of the Provisional IRA to come forward with the information needed to identify the individual involved in order to allow prosecutions to take place.

Deputy Collins commented, “While I have only received the report this evening, even a quick analysis of the main conclusions makes for very difficult reading. The clarity of the report vindicates the decision of the previous Government to establish the Tribunal. It also throws into sharp relief the ongoing failure of the British Government to honour its commitments to hold a number of other inquiries agreed at the Weston Park talks.

“Given the effort that has gone into the report, it deserves careful and comprehensive examination, but even at this early stage a number of issues are clear.

“The first is the sickening betrayal that Judge Smithwick has signalled on the part of an individual in Dundalk Garda Station, who collaborated with the Provisional IRA to facilitate the murder of Chief Superintendent Harry Breen and Superintendent Bob Buchanan. By passing such information to an organisation that was seeking to undermine the security of this country, this person betrayed and dishonoured the sacrifice and effort of An Garda Síochána in a profound and disgusting way.

“The second issue arising immediately is what steps should now be taken. It is Fianna Fáil’s view that there should be a thorough criminal investigation into the identity of the individual and / or individuals who colluded and that the person should be prosecuted if sufficient evidence can be gathered. Unfortunately those in possession of the key information needed to identify this individual failed to provide it to the Tribunal. I would call on them, even at this late stage, to do the decent thing and make this information available.

“The families of Chief Superintendent Breen and Superintendent Buchanan, and a generation of Garda personnel who put their lives on the line on a daily basis to meet the Provisional IRA threat deserve no less.”