Foster calls for probe into Irish state collusion in IRA Murders

The First Minister has written to the Taoiseach, demanding he 'urgently assists' in a quest for truth, by investigating allegations of collusion between Irish state authorities and the IRA.

Arlene Foster has asked for a meeting with Micheal Martin, and says she wants to discuss unanswered questions about the state's apparent role with Republican paramilitaries.

In the letter to the Irish Premier, Mrs Foster outlines a number of murders where there have been allegations of Irish state collusion.

She said the Smithwick Inquiry found that gardai leaked information to the IRA about two RUC officers, but no action has been taken since the report in 2013.

That refers to Chief Supt Harry Breen and Supt Bob Buchanan were murdered in 1989 as they crossed the border following a meeting at a garda station in Dundalk.

She also cited the Kingsmill massacre in 1976, the 1991 killing of Ian Sproule, and the murders of Lord Justice Maurice Gibson Pc and his wife Lady Cecily in 1987.

Mrs Foster said she was writing to the Taoiseach following a tweet sent by Sinn Fein TD Brian Stanley which appeared to glorify historical killings of British soldiers by the IRA.

She said she has received letters from 'innocent victims' about the tweet and the publicity surrounding the British Government's decision not to hold an immediate inquiry into the murder of Pat Finucane.