The Irish News, 30 November 2006:

Families welcome collusion findings

By Valerie Robinson

Southern Correspondent

An Oireachtas committee has found that British forces colluded with loyalists to carry out a series of gun and bomb attacks in the Republic.

Victims' families last night welcomed the findings contained in the committee's report but expressed disappointment that it had fallen short of ordering a full public inquiry into the killings.

The so-called Glenanne Gang, which contained UDR and RUC members, is believed to have been behind most of the UVF attacks covered in the report.

The attacks looked at by the committee include the bombing of Kay's Tavern in Dundalk, Dublin Airport, the Three Star Inn in Castleblayney, and an attack on the Miami Showband.

The committee found "the spectre of collusion" in the cases.

Maura McKeever, whose father Jack Rooney was among two men killed in the 1975 Dundalk bombing, said: "Although the committee did a great job, we're still convinced that a public inquiry is necessary to get at the full truth."

Alan Brecknell, a researcher for the Pat Finucane Centre whose father Trevor died in a gun and bomb attack on Donnelly's Bar in Silverbridge, Co Armagh, called on secretary of state Peter Hain to "release the documents which to date have been withheld from the Irish Government, NGOs and families"

"It's time to come clean on the links between the northern security forces and loyalist paramilitaries," he added.

Oireachtas committee chairman Sean Ardagh last night said members had been left in "no doubt" that "widespread" collusion had taken place in a series of attacks in the Republic in the 1970s.

Their findings were based on public hearings on the fourth report by Justice Henry Barron on murderous attacks by loyalist paramilitaries three decades ago.

Official British Army documents from London's National Archive suggesting between five per cent and 15 per cent of the UDR were also loyalist patramilitaries formed part of the bulk of evidence reviewed by the committee.

Details of the documents' contents was revealed by The Irish News earlier this year.

Mr Ardagh said the committee was convinced that collusion had taken place in "many if not all of the atrocities" investigated in the final Barron report.

"We are horrified that persons who were employed by the British administration to preserve peace and to protect people were engaged in the creation of violence and the butchering of innocent victims," he said.

"The committee believes that unless the full truth about collusion is established, and those involved either admit or are fixed with responsibility then there cannot be closure for the families."

The committee also concluded that the state should have done more to assist the victims of atrocities during the Troubles.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said he had been in contact with the British government, adding it was "essential" that it examines the report findings and cooperates with "all investigations into the serious issues that have arisen".

He said that the attacks had taken place in a "dark and tragic period of the history of this island", adding that the findings of the latest report were "deeply troubling" and painted "a very disturbing picture".

He supported a call by the Oireachtas committee for a full debate in the Dail and Seanad on collusion, adding that he planned to meet a group representing victims and survivors of the Miami Showband killings today.