Ex-garda before Smithwick Tribunal

A former detective sergeant in Dundalk Garda station has begun giving evidence at the Smithwick Tribunal.

Owen Corrigan, who is one of three former Dundalk sergeants represented at the tribunal, said he was prepared to refute “each and every allegation” that he colluded with the IRA in the 1989 murder of two RUC officers.

The tribunal is inquiring into allegations that members of the garda or other employees of the State passed information to the IRA about the movements of chief supt Harry Breen and supt Bob Buchanan of the RUC.

The two officers were killed in an ambush on the Edenappa Road in south Armagh minutes after they left a meeting in Dundalk Garda Station.

Arriving at the tribunal this morning Mr Corrigan said he was a diabetic and on medication but would nevertheless be able to give evidence in two hour segments and would attempt to answer all questions put to him. “I want to address each individual allegation and am here to answer all questions" he said.

Counsel for the tribunal Justin Dillon read from a statement to the tribunal in which Mr Corrigan said he had given 36 years loyal service to the State, including time in the post office. Mr Corrigan said he had been spat on, threatened and abused in public for his actions in combating subversive operations.

He said he welcomed the setting up of the tribunal which was an opportunity to clear his name. He said allegations had been made by Jeffrey Donaldson MP under parliamentary privilege in the House of Commons and he had not had a chance to clear his name before his wife Sheila died.

Outlining the allegations, Mr Dillon said the tribunal had been told of RUC intelligence information, dating from 1985, which named Mr Corrigan as a man who passed information to the IRA.

Mr Dillon also said the tribunal had been told one of the murdered RUC officers Mr Breen had expressed concern about him; that Mr Donaldson had mentioned him by name; and that former British Army undercover agent in the IRA Kevin Fulton, had also named him as someone who passed information to the IRA.

The hearing continues.