Thatcher told to 'play down' claims of police collusion in IRA murders

Former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and NI Secretary, Tom King, were advised to play down allegations of collusion between the IRA and Irish police following the murders of two RUC officers, a tribunal has heard.

The Smithwick Tribunal in Dublin has been shown briefing notes, prepared for the politicians by advisers.

They warned that the Irish government "was exercised about allegations of moles" in their police force and that such speculation "played the terrorists' own game".

The tribunal was established in 2005 to investigate allegations of Irish police collusion in the murders of RUC Chief Superintendent Harry Breen and RUC Superintendent Robert Buchanan.

The police officers were shot dead in an IRA ambush near the County Armagh border as they returned from a meeting in Dundalk garda station.

On Tuesday, the tribunal heard that in the three months preceding the killings, 25 people had been murdered in Northern Ireland.

The briefing notes also stressed that the impression should not be given that "we only really care about members of the security forces".