'No evidence' of Garda collusion

Allegations contained in Toby Harnden's book

An Irish police investigation into claims that members of the force colluded with the IRA in connection with a dozen murders has not turned up any incriminating evidence.

The Irish Justice Minister, John O'Donoghue, announced the conclusion of the investigation on Sunday.

The allegations focus on the murders in counties Armagh and Louth in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

The victims include six RUC officers, a Northern Ireland judge and his wife, three members of a family from Northern Ireland and a farmer from County Louth, just south of the border.

Commissioner Pat Byrne, head of Ireland's police, the Garda, ordered the investigation.

John O'Donoghue: Details will not be public

It involved inquiries in the United States, Northern Ireland and the republic by senior officers from the force's National Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Security and Intelligence Branch.

Mr O'Donoghue revealed he did not intend to publish the findings because of the report's "confidential nature".

He said the investigating officers found no evidence of collusion.

"In addition, they were informed by the RUC, which also carried out an investigation into the allegations, that no evidence existed, nor could any documentation be located, which evidences any such Garda collusion with subversives," the minister said.

"The investigating officers did everything that could be expected in order to ascertain whether evidence exists to support the allegations made."

'Serious allegations'

Charlie Flanagan, a spokesman for the opposition Fine Gael party who raised the claims in the Irish parliament, said he planned to pursue the matter.

He said he would be contacting Mr O'Donoghue, Commissioner Byrne and RUC Chief Constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan.

"This is not over as far as I am concerned. The most serious of allegations were made about the behaviour in the course of duty of members of the Garda," he said.

The allegations, which surfaced in a book and in the media last year, were raised in the British and Irish parliaments.

they were informed by the RUC, which also carried out an investigation into the allegations, that no evidence existed

Justice Minister John O'Donoghue

The allegations were also raised with Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern in a letter last year from Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble.

In the book Bandit Country, former Daily Telegraph Ireland correspondent Toby Harnden claimed that two Garda officers passed on information to the IRA.

He alleged the information aided the IRA murders of Lord Justice Gibson and his wife, members of the Hanna family from Hillsborough, County Down, two RUC superintendents, four RUC officers, and County Louth farmer Tom Oliver between 1987 and 1995.