Garda spies helped IRA to murder 12 people
Karl Brophy
GARDA Commissioner Pat Byrne has ordered a fresh inquiry into
allegations that two gardaí colluded with the IRA resulting in the
murder of at least 12 people.
A senior Garda officer has been appointed to examine files relating to
the dozen deaths over a period of eight years, Justice Minister John
O’Donoghue told the Dáil yesterday.
Fine Gael TDs, Charles Flanagan and Jim Higgins, have demanded an
investigation at the highest level into claims that two named gardai
co operated with the IRA to organise a series of ambushes, shootings
and bombings.
Commissioner Byrne has ordered an investigation into five separate
incidents to ascertain if there is enough evidence to bring charges
against the gardaí who allegedly acted as IRA moles.
It is believed the accused gardai, who were based in the border
region, passed on information about meetings, security handovers and
travel arrangements of senior RUC police officers to the Provisionals.
The crimes include:
The 1991 abduction, torture and subsequent murder of a Louth man, Tom
Oliver, who informed gardaí of IRA activity in the county.
The killing of four RUC men on May 20, 1985. Tracy Doak, 21, Steven
Rodgers, 19, David Baird, 22 and Bill Wilson, 28, died in a bomb
explosion when travelling in two unmarked RUC patrol cars. The bomb
exploded as they approached a secret location, agreed beforehand with
the Garda authorities. They were due to take over responsibility for
the escort of security van from the gardaí at that secret location.
The killing of Northern Ireland’s Lord Justice Lord Gibson and his
wife Cecily in an IRA bomb explosion on April 25, 1987. Again, the
explosion happened at the precise point where a garda escort passed
over the responsibility for security to the RUC, a location only known
to a small section of the Republic’s police force.
A botched IRA attempt to kill another judge, Eoin Higgins, and his
wife in April of 1988 which resulted in the murder of three members of
a Northern Ireland family. Robert Hanna, 45, his wife Maureen, 44, and
their son David, 7, were all killed in an explosion at the point where
the RUC was supposed to take over the escort duty for Judge Higgins’
car.
The killing on March 20, 1989 of RUC Chief Supt Harry Breen and Supt
Bob Buchanan who were ambushed and shot by the Provisional IRA. The
police officers had travelled to a Garda station near the border for a
highly secret meeting with senior gardaí.
An investigation in the early 1990s was carried out into the
allegations but Justice Minister John O’Donoghue told the Dáil no
tangible evidence was uncovered at the time which could result in
prosecutions.
GARDA Commissioner Pat Byrne has ordered a fresh inquiry into
allegations that two gardaí colluded with the IRA resulting in the
murder of at least 12 people.
A senior Garda officer has been appointed to examine files relating to
the dozen deaths over a period of eight years, Justice Minister John
O’Donoghue told the Dáil yesterday.
Fine Gael TDs, Charles Flanagan and Jim Higgins, have demanded an
investigation at the highest level into claims that two named gardai
co operated with the IRA to organise a series of ambushes, shootings
and bombings.
Commissioner Byrne has ordered an investigation into five separate
incidents to ascertain if there is enough evidence to bring charges
against the gardaí who allegedly acted as IRA moles.
It is believed the accused gardai, who were based in the border
region, passed on information about meetings, security handovers and
travel arrangements of senior RUC police officers to the Provisionals.
The crimes include:
The 1991 abduction, torture and subsequent murder of a Louth man, Tom
Oliver, who informed gardaí of IRA activity in the county.
The killing of four RUC men on May 20, 1985. Tracy Doak, 21, Steven
Rodgers, 19, David Baird, 22 and Bill Wilson, 28, died in a bomb
explosion when travelling in two unmarked RUC patrol cars. The bomb
exploded as they approached a secret location, agreed beforehand with
the Garda authorities. They were due to take over responsibility for
the escort of security van from the gardaí at that secret location.
The killing of Northern Ireland’s Lord Justice Lord Gibson and his
wife Cecily in an IRA bomb explosion on April 25, 1987. Again, the
explosion happened at the precise point where a garda escort passed
over the responsibility for security to the RUC, a location only known
to a small section of the Republic’s police force.
A botched IRA attempt to kill another judge, Eoin Higgins, and his
wife in April of 1988 which resulted in the murder of three members of
a Northern Ireland family. Robert Hanna, 45, his wife Maureen, 44, and
their son David, 7, were all killed in an explosion at the point where
the RUC was supposed to take over the escort duty for Judge Higgins’
car.
The killing on March 20, 1989 of RUC Chief Supt Harry Breen and Supt
Bob Buchanan who were ambushed and shot by the Provisional IRA. The
police officers had travelled to a Garda station near the border for a
highly secret meeting with senior gardaí.
An investigation in the early 1990s was carried out into the
allegations but Justice Minister John O’Donoghue told the Dáil no
tangible evidence was uncovered at the time which could result in
prosecutions.
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