A new tribunal of inquiry to investigate whether there was collusion between members of the Garda or other State employees in the murder of two senior RUC officers by the IRA in 1989 will get under way today.
The tribunal will be chaired by the former president of the District Court, Peter Smithwick.
It will examine the fatal shooting of RUC Chief Supt Harry Breen and Supt Robert Buchanan. Both were killed in an IRA ambush north of the Border between Co Louth and south Armagh on March 20th, 1989. They were killed as they returned from a meeting with senior gardaí in Dundalk.
The case is one of six allegations of collusion between British and Irish security forces and paramilitaries that were investigated by retired Canadian judge Peter Cory arising out of inter-governmental talks in Weston Park in 2003.
He recommended that a full inquiry be held into the case.
The allegations, which have been made by a number of journalists in recent years, centre on claims that a member of the Garda or a civilian employed within the Garda organisation provided information to the IRA on the visit of the two RUC officers and, in particular, on the time they left Dundalk Garda station.
The tribunal will get under way today with an opening statement on the case.There will also be an opportunity for various interested parties to seek representation before the tribunal.
Public hearings of the tribunal are expected to begin in the weeks ahead.
No firm date has been set at present for the start of public hearings.
