"This report says we are dealing with 'acts of international terrorism that were colluded in by the British security forces'. Your government in London has refused to help our investigation.

Go home to London and don't return until you have something positive to offer."

Such directness has not happened . . . and is unlikely to . . . but the blunt conclusions in the report published by Sean Ardagh's committee leaves little wriggle room. Innocent lives were lost due to the uncontrolled activities of those working for the British state. The Oireachtas Committee, following on from the inquiries of Judge Henry Barron, says the evidence has raised "profound questions as to our relationship with the United Kingdom."

All these atrocities took place in the 1970s. But other deaths followed over the subsequent two decades, including those of solicitors Pat Finucane and Rosemary Nelson. Much of what the British government knows about these events remains a secret. Tony Blair would do much for his legacy if he allowed the truth to emerge before he leaves 10 Downing Street. Otherwise, there may well be grounds for sending the earlier Barron report and the Ardagh Committee report to the United Nations and other international human rights institutions.