merrion street

Tanaiste Eamon Gilmore responded to the publication saying:

Chief Superintendent Harry Breen and Superintendent Robert Buchanan of the RUC were murdered by the IRA on 20 March 1989 as they returned home from a meeting in Dundalk Garda Station.

For years we have sought to get to the truth about their deaths.

Today we must acknowledge and confront the central grave finding of the Smithwick Tribunal Report that there was collusion with the IRA from within An Garda Síochána in the murders of Chief Superintendent Harry Breen and Superintendent Robert Buchanan.

Whilst Judge Smithwick does not find direct evidence of collusion in the killings, he concludes, on the balance of probabilities that collusion did occur involving an unidentified member, or members, of An Garda Síochána.

I am appalled and saddened by this finding; it is a matter of grave public concern.

On behalf of the Government and the people of Ireland, I apologise without reservation to the Breen and Buchanan families for any failings identified in the report on the part of the State or any of its agencies.

Judge Peter Cory, who also examined this case, described these men as two outstanding officers. Their murder deprived June Breen and Catherine Buchanan of their husbands, and Gillian and George Breen and Heather and William Buchanan of devoted fathers.

I know that members of An Garda Síochána will be shocked by these findings today. The actions documented in this report are a betrayal of the values and the very ethos of an Garda Síochána, as the guardians of peace.

Public scrutiny and transparency are essential to confidence in policing and in the rule of law. Whilst the findings of the Report make for difficult reading, I welcome its publication and thank Judge Smithwick for the work he has done over eight years to ensure the transparency we require.

Justice Minister Alan Shatter welcomed publication of the final report of the Smithwick Tribunal saying:

I met with Judge Peter Smithwick this morning and he briefed me on his report and its conclusions. He informed me also that he met with the two officers’ families yesterday and outlined his findings to them. I expressed mine and the Government’s gratitude to Judge Smithwick for having undertaken this difficult task.

Judge Smithwick was unable to find direct evidence of collusion in the killings. However, he concludes, on the balance of probabilities, that collusion did occur involving an unidentified member or members of An Garda Síochána.

The killings of Harry Breen and Bob Buchanan on the afternoon of 20 March, 1989 were two stark examples of the brutality which pervaded this island for many dark years. Both left behind loving families, friends and colleagues. Even with the passage of 24 years and the positive developments which have taken place on the island since, our condemnation of their murder should be as strong today as it was then.

After many years' deliberations, it is right that the Tribunal report should now be considered in detail. I will be doing so with a view to presenting it to my colleagues in Government in the coming weeks. I expect too that the report will be fully debated in the Oireachtas.

But even before that process is completed I believe that it is important to say immediately, on my own behalf and that of the Government, that I apologise without reservation for any failings identified in the report on the part of the State or any of its agencies.

Read Minister Shatter's statement

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The report is available for download

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