British security forces collusion
over Republic bombings in 1970s
 An Irish parliamentary
committee has found that British security services colluded with Loyalists
involved in a series of attacks in the Republic.
The committee studied the findings of Mr Justice Henry Barron’s
report into 18 Loyalist murders in the 1970s.
The conclusions are likely to fuel fresh demands for investigations into
what is alleged to have been a pattern of collusion between British security
forces and the Ulster Volunteer Force.
Mr Justice Barron named several Loyalists and members of the security
forces suspected of involvement.
The committee also criticised the Northern Ireland Office and the RUC
for failing to co-operate with inquiries.
The atrocities that the report covers include the bombing of Kay’s
Tavern in Dundalk, the 1976 Castleblaney bombing, the Dublin Airport bombing,
the gun and bomb attack at Donnelly’s Bar Co. Armagh and the attack
on the Miami Showband in Co. Down.
In its conclusions the committee said it was “left in no doubt that
collusion between the British security forces and terrorists was behind
many if not all of the atrocities considered in this report.”
The report urged the British Government to co-operate with any further
investigations.
Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern — who said the committee’s
findings were “deeply troubling” — called on the British
Government to examine the report carefully.
He said: “They paint a very disturbing picture. It is absolutely
essential that the British Government examine the findings of all of these
reports, as well as the forthcoming MacEntee report and that it fully
cooperates with all investigations into the serious issues that have arisen.”
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