THE FAMILY of murdered RUC chief superintendent Harry Breen has criticised Minister for Justice Alan Shatter for linking concern for them with the new Smithwick Tribunal deadline.
Family solicitor John McBurney told The Irish TimesMr Shatter's expression of concern for the Breens was "insulting and rejected in such circumstances".
Mr McBurney released a number of e-mails he sent to Mr Shatter on behalf of his clients seeking an urgent meeting before the introduction of a Dáil motion which imposed the new tribunal deadline. Mr McBurney said the Breen family had been concerned the new deadline would “hamper and damage” the tribunal’s attempts to persuade witnesses from outside the jurisdiction to give evidence.
He described the new deadline as “an arbitrary, unnecessary and damaging time limit”, and an intrusion into the working of the tribunal “which the family found insulting”.
Mr McBurney said he had first written to Mr Shatter asking for a meeting by e-mail on May 28th and later that day sent a follow-up e-mail explaining he was “anxious to be permitted to attend [the Dáil] as an observer”.
He received a reply from the Minister’s private secretary two days later to the effect, “I wish to acknowledge receipt of your e-mail and confirm the matter is currently being dealt with”.
Mr McBurney said he had then written to Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore and Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Brendan Howlin on May 31st and had received a reply from the Tánaiste. Mr Gilmore said he was “pleased to acknowledge [the e-mail] and to advise that I have noted the contents”.
Mr McBurney said he had not received a reply from Mr Howlin.
For his part, Mr Shatter yesterday welcomed the interim report of the Smithwick Tribunal published on June 30th to fulfil a deadline imposed by the Oireachtas in May. He noted that oral hearings had commenced and that the tribunal reported “good progress”.
In a reference to the controversy that arose over the imposition of deadlines for the completion of work, he said: “It would be a pity if issues which arose some time ago in discharging my responsibility to the taxpayer and the public interest were to be used by anyone now to detract from the work of the tribunal.
“I have always acknowledged the importance of the tribunal being able to conclude its important work fully and expeditiously.”
He said the tribunal continued to have his “unswerving support”.
Separately, Amnesty International Ireland called Mr Shatter to withdraw the November 30th deadline. Colm O’Gorman, its director, said: “It is clear that Justice Smithwick believes the deadline, and the publicity surrounding it, have compromised the independence of the tribunal.
“It is also disturbing to learn that witnesses who had intended co-operating with the tribunal are now reconsidering this because of the Government’s decision to impose this deadline.”