A retired Garda detective told the Special Criminal Court yesterday that he met "an English gentleman" on several occasions during an operation in Paris 18 years ago aimed at identifying the killers of a garda. But Mr Edward Ryan denied knowing the man was from the British Embassy in Paris or that he was in MI5. He said he and four other gardai went to Paris on the directions of then Assistant Commissioner Joe Ainsworth to identify two suspects for the murder of Garda Patrick Reynolds.
Mr Ryan was testifying during the sixth day of the trial of Sean "Bap" Hughes, of Albert Terrace, Belfast, who denies the capital murder of Garda Patrick Reynolds (23), at Avonbeg Gardens, Tallaght, Co Dublin, on February 20th, 1982. The trial continues on Monday.