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Flood 'destroyed bomb evidence' Smithwick Tribunal told | |
(about 4 hours later) | |
By Jennifer O'Leary Dublin reporter | By Jennifer O'Leary Dublin reporter |
The Smithwick Tribunal has heard counsel for the PSNI ask Irish police to clarify details of a flood at Garda headquarters that may have damaged evidence from a bomb-making site. | |
The tribunal is investigated alleged collusion in the murder of two RUC men. | |
A 1500lb bomb was discovered in the site in Omeath, County Louth in August 1989. | |
A former Garda told the tribunal that fingerprints collected from the scene "may have been destroyed" in a flood. | |
Retired Detective Inspector John McGee gave evidence that at the time fingerprints collected from the site did not match a pre-computerised database of fingerprints of "subversives". | |
The tribunal previously heard evidence from Kevin Fulton, a former British agent undercover in the IRA, who said that he was present at the Omeath site with Patrick 'Mooch' Blair, a convicted IRA bomb-maker. | |
Mr Fulton said that after the site was raided, both men feared their fingerprints would be uncovered. | |
However, two days later Mr Fulton said that they were told that the "panic was over" and said he was told by a colleague in the IRA that "our friend" had removed fingerprints from the bomb. | |
Neither Mr Fulton or Blair, were arrested in connection with the Omeath bomb-making site. | |
The Garda had on file fingerprints of both men, following separate arrests in 1986 and 1989. | |
The tribunal heard that investigating gardai would have been advised "within a couple of days" if a match for fingerprint evidence had been confirmed. | |
"I have never known prints to deteriorate, they should still be viable," said Mr McGee. | |
"I am not in a position to say what happened to the case file, I was told recently that it may have been destroyed in a flood in the basement of the Garda technical bureau." | |
Counsel for the Garda Commissioner, Michael Durack, said he was trying to ascertain the details. | |
Counsel for the tribunal Mary Laverty said the commission "has been aware of this for a certain amount of weeks". | |
'Officer trusted' | |
The tribunal is investigating alleged Garda/IRA collusion in the murders of RUC officers Ch Supt Harry Breen and Supt Bob Buchanan in south Armagh in 1989. | |
Earlier, a former senior RUC officer told the tribunal that he trusted the retired Dundalk-based Garda sergeant Owen Corrigan "with his life". | |
Gerry McCann was a former detective inspector in Newry for 10 years. | Gerry McCann was a former detective inspector in Newry for 10 years. |
He told the tribunal that he had nothing but admiration for Mr Corrigan and members of the Garda in Dundalk. | He told the tribunal that he had nothing but admiration for Mr Corrigan and members of the Garda in Dundalk. |
"I never heard any concerns about Owen Corrigan or heard any talk that lead me to think I needed to be careful about what I discussed with him," he said. | |
"There was suspicion of collusion between RUC and loyalist paramilitaries, I never heard anything that gave me concern about the Garda and the IRA." | "There was suspicion of collusion between RUC and loyalist paramilitaries, I never heard anything that gave me concern about the Garda and the IRA." |
Mr Corrigan is one of three former gardai under the spotlight at the Dublin tribunal. | Mr Corrigan is one of three former gardai under the spotlight at the Dublin tribunal. |
Chief Supt Breen and Supt Buchanan died in an IRA ambush in south Armagh only minutes after leaving Dundalk Garda Station. | Chief Supt Breen and Supt Buchanan died in an IRA ambush in south Armagh only minutes after leaving Dundalk Garda Station. |
Mr Corrigan denies all allegations of collusion against him. | Mr Corrigan denies all allegations of collusion against him. |
Mr McCann said he often discussed his travel routes south of the border with Mr Corrigan and took his advice. | Mr McCann said he often discussed his travel routes south of the border with Mr Corrigan and took his advice. |
"There were many times over the years when Owen Corrigan knew my travel plans and could, if he wanted, to set me or my colleagues up," he added. | |
"In the course of service I never had suspicions, had reason to, or had suspicions expressed to me about Owen Corrigan or any other gardai at Dundalk Garda Station." | "In the course of service I never had suspicions, had reason to, or had suspicions expressed to me about Owen Corrigan or any other gardai at Dundalk Garda Station." |
Mr McCann, who had a role in the Narrow Water investigation, said he was "surprised" to hear evidence on Tuesday of a lack of Garda co-operation in the bomb attack. | Mr McCann, who had a role in the Narrow Water investigation, said he was "surprised" to hear evidence on Tuesday of a lack of Garda co-operation in the bomb attack. |
"I can only speak about the relationship between police officers in Newry and Dundalk in the 1970s and 1980s and that relationship was second to none," he said | "I can only speak about the relationship between police officers in Newry and Dundalk in the 1970s and 1980s and that relationship was second to none," he said |
"I was surprised to hear there was any shadow of suspicion." | "I was surprised to hear there was any shadow of suspicion." |
The tribunal has previously heard that Harry Breen had expressed concerns to Sgt Alan Mains about travelling to Dundalk because there was an IRA mole among the gardai. | The tribunal has previously heard that Harry Breen had expressed concerns to Sgt Alan Mains about travelling to Dundalk because there was an IRA mole among the gardai. |
"Where any concern came from I don't know," said McCann. "It is unbelievable that information was floating around that I was not aware of." | "Where any concern came from I don't know," said McCann. "It is unbelievable that information was floating around that I was not aware of." |
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