RUC chief had loyalist links

RUC Chief superintendent Harry Breen, who was killed by the IRA in March 1989, colluded with loyalist death squads, according to evidence given to the Oireachtas committee considering the Barron report. The revelation came as further evidence emerged of Special Branch collusion with unionist paramilitaries involved in the Dublin/Monaghan bombings.

Breen was ambushed as he returned from Newry after a meeting with Gardaí in Dundalk. The circumstances of his death led to speculation that there may have been collusion in the killing. Breen's death was one of two controversial killings to be investigated by the Canadian Judge Peter Cory. The 26-County Government last year agreed to establish an inquiry into Breen's death as recommended by Cory.

Questions concerning Breen's collusion with unionist paramilitaries were put to the Dublin government in 1999 by relatives of victims of the Dublin/Monaghan bombings. Justice for the Forgotten represents survivors and relatives of the victims of the bombings.

According to evidence given to the Dublin Government by former RUC officer and convicted loyalist killer John Weir, Breen and other RUC officers helped supply guns to the UVF in Portadown. According to Weir, Breen brought guns to a farm belonging to a former RUC reservist in Glenanne.

The group, centred in Glenanne, were responsible for the 1974 Dublin/Monaghan bombings as well as multiple sectarian murders in the '70s. The recent Barron Report concluded that Weir's evidence should be taken seriously.

A solicitor acting for the relatives of the Dublin/Monaghan victims has argued that a public inquiry into Breen's death would be untenable while the Dublin Government was refusing to order a public inquiry into the 1974 bombings.

Justice for the Forgotten also revealed evidence submitted by former senior British Army 'dirty tricks' officer Colin Wallace to the Oireachtas committee. Wallace claims that in June 1974, just weeks after the bombings, he applied for permission to 'target' a list of known loyalist paramilitaries. Special Branch vetoed any action to be taken against some of those named on Wallace's list, including some of the chief suspects for the bombings.