Judge Peter Smithwick

Excellent, detailed, rigorous and open investigation by Judge Peter Smithwick into suspected collusion by Gardai in Dundalk Station with the South Armagh Provo IRA in their double murder in South Armagh on Monday, March 20, 1989 of RUC H Division Commander, Chief Supt Harry Breen, based in Armagh City, and RUC Border Supt Bob Buchanan, as they returned to Armagh City from a meeting in Dundalk Garda District HQ. The Judge found, that as a matter of the balance of probability, there had been collusion by 1 or more Gardai in the double murder, but he did not have sufficiently strong evidence to allow him to also identify either or both of the prime suspects [ a Special Branch Det-Sgt and a uniformed Sgt, both based in Dundalk Garda Station ] - or anyone else - as the probable culprit. He did NOT find that [a] neither man could be a culprit, or [b] that either man was probably not a culprit, and nobody else from Dundalk Garda Station [ or anywhere else ] was in any way identified as a possible culprit. An unprecedented, measured but damning conclusion. He also pointed to a culture within the Gardai which prioritized Reputation, Loyalty and Political Expediency over Truth, Justice and Concern for Victims - evident also in the official Garda response during his Enquiry.… (plus d'informations)