McGuinness 'involved' in murders

The Northern Ireland deputy first minister Martin McGuinness was “involved” in the 1989 murders of two RUC officers, the Smithwick Tribunal had heard.

Former British intelligence officer Ian Hurst - also known as Martin Ingram - claimed the intention of the IRA operation in which the two RUC officers were killed was to abduct them, interrogate them, remove papers they were expected to be carrying and to ultimately execute them.

Mr Hurst, who has been given permission by the British Ministry of Defence to give evidence to the tribunal, asserted that the killings involved up to 60 IRA volunteers and supporters and the operation “was authorised at [the IRA’s] Northern Command. Mr McGuinness was involved”.

He also described Mr McGuinness as “OC Northern Command”, the IRA's chief officer in the North.

A spokesman for Mr McGuinness said he “totally rejects” the allegation.

Mr Hurst also claimed he had seen a number of “SB50” reports which expressed concern that Det Sgt Owen Corrigan and Sgt Leo Colton of Dundalk Garda station were passing information to the IRA.

Both Garda officers are represented at the tribunal, which is investigating suggestions of Garda collusion in the RUC men’s murders.

Mr Hurst also claimed the senior British agent in the IRA, whom he described as an executioner and someone involved in the IRA’s internal security, known by the code name Stakeknife, was Freddie Scappaticci.

Mr Hurst gave evidence to the tribunal in private session last week. His evidence was read into the public record today.

Mr McGuinness' spokesman said the tribunal has already questioned evidence it has heard from British intelligence.

"This individual who uses a variety of names including Martin Ingram has no credibility. By his own admission he is part of a British security apparatus which played a very negative and malign role in the conflict, including
widespread involvement in collusion," the spokesman said. "His submission to the tribunal needs to be seen and judged in that context."