British 'colluded with loyalists'

The committee studied the findings of Mr Justice Henry Barron's report into 18 loyalist murders in the 1970s.

Mr Justice Barron named several loyalists and members of the security forces suspected of involvement.

The committee also criticised the Northern Ireland Office and the RUC for failing to co-operate with inquiries.

The Barron report was presented to the Irish government's joint committee on justice in December 2003.

It examined the bombings of Kay's Tavern in Dundalk, Dublin Airport, the Three Star Inn in Castleblayney and other incidents in the 1970s - including the Miami Showbands murders at a bogus British army checkpoint at Buskhill, near Newry.

Mr Justice Barron named several loyalists as well as members of the security forces suspected of involvement.

The parliamentary committee found that there was extensive evidence of security force collusion in paramilitary activities during that time.

Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern, who said the committee's findings were "deeply troubling", called on the British government to examine the report carefully.

"They paint a very disturbing picture. It is absolutely essential that the British government examine the findings of all of these reports, as well as the forthcoming MacEntee report, and that it fully cooperates with all investigations into the serious issues that have arisen," said Mr Ahern.

SDLP leader Mark Durkan said: "The considered view of a parliamentary committee is that collusion was endemic, there was extensive evidence of that collusion at the time and elements in the British security forces were engaged in international terrorism.

"The British government must heed the call of the taoiseach and the Pat Finucane Centre to examine the findings of the committee and take appropriate action."

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