Collusion victims families meet Ahern

A number of families affected by collusion between British security forces and loyalist paramilitaries are set to meet the Taoiseach…

A number of families affected by collusion between British security forces and loyalist paramilitaries are set to meet the Taoiseach today.

Those meeting the Taoiseach include relatives of members of the Miami Showband, the 1975 Dundalk and Silverbridge bomb and gun attacks, members of the Reavey and O'Dowd families who each lost three family members in early 1976 and relatives of those killed in bomb attacks in Castleblaney and in Keady, South Armagh in 1976.

The incidents were detailed last year in number of reports by Mr Justice Henry Barron's Independent Commission of Inquiry.

These and many other attacks in the 1970s were carried out by a gang based at the farm of former RUC man in Glenanne, Armagh. The gang was made up of Portadown loyalists, members of the RUC Special Patrol Group and UDR members linked to Military Intelligence.

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Among the delegation today will be Alan Brecknell whose father was killed in the gun and bomb attack on Donnelly's Bar.

Speaking in advance of the meeting Mr Brecknell said: "Following on from the very strong International Panel and Dáil Committee reports, we will be pressing the Taoiseach to ensure that the British Prime Minister finally comes clean on the level of collusion in the Murder Triangle in the 70s.

"This was not just a matter of the security forces or services directing loyalist paramilitaries or allowing them to kill, serving members of the security forces actually played a central role in attacks carried out by the Glenanne gang on both sides of the border," he added.