THE GOVERNMENT’S decision to force the Smithwick tribunal to wind down by November has been attacked by Fianna Fáil as a snub to the unionist community.
Last week, the Government announced it would change the terms of reference of the tribunal, which was established in 2005, effectively to oblige it to produce an interim report at the end of June and a final report by the end of November.
Minister for Justice Alan Shatter will introduce a motion in the Dáil today giving effect to that decision.
The tribunal has been investigating claims of collusion by gardaí or other State employees in the 1989 murder of senior RUC officers Harry Breen and Robert Buchanan.
They were ambushed by the IRA near Jonesboro, Co Armagh, on their way home from a meeting with the Garda Síochána in Dundalk earlier that day.
Although established six years ago, the tribunal will only begin its first substantive public hearings involving witnesses on June 9th.
The opening statement by tribunal chairman Judge Peter Smithwick will take place on June 7th.
Last week, Fianna Fáil’s justice spokesman, Dara Calleary, said he was in favour of imposing deadlines on tribunals but said he was concerned that forcing the inquiry to produce an interim report might compromise its hearings.
Yesterday Mr Calleary widened the scope and extent of the criticism by claiming that Mr Shatter was acting completely inappropriately by forcing the tribunal to wind down just as it reached the crucial phase of its work.
He said the tribunal was set up to help build unionist support for the peace process.
“By acting unilaterally and apparently without even basic consultation, Mr Shatter has caused enormous damage to that cause,” he said.
