MORRIS TRIBUNAL: A suspended detective who is alleged to have planned bogus explosives finds in Donegal is finally expected to take the stand to begin his evidence at the tribunal next week.
Garda Det Noel McMahon, who, along with Garda Supt Kevin Lennon, is at the heart of the current module of the tribunal, is scheduled to begin his evidence on Tuesday.
The two face allegations from alleged informer Ms Adrienne McGlinchey and Garda McMahon's estranged wife, Sheenagh, that they organised bogus explosives finds near Rossnowlagh, Donegal town and Burnfoot in 1993 and 1994. Both deny the allegations.
The tribunal has also investigated claims relating to apparent finds of home-made explosive (HME) near the Oatfield sweet factory in Letterkenny, and during a search of Ms McGlinchey's flat in Buncrana in 1994.
The search at Ms McGlinchey's flat has become a matter of controversy at the tribunal, which is attempting to discover who authorised the search that followed a report of suspicious materials there after a visit by the landlord to repair a leak.
No warrant exists for the search, and no senior garda can remember issuing a warrant. Last Monday, retired Garda sergeant Des Walsh told the tribunal he saw Garda John P. O'Connor in Buncrana station on March 14th, 1994, the date of the search. This contradicts the evidence of Supt O'Connor, who told the tribunal he was in Letterkenny that day at a conference, and left there to travel directly to Dublin.
The subsequent arrest of Ms McGlinchey and her flatmate, Ms Yvonne Devine, following this search led to an interrogation which Ms McGlinchey described in her evidence last year as "a farce".
Also under investigation is a find of alleged home-made explosives in two holdall bags found near Oatfields which were apparently stored in a disused gymnasium in Letterkenny Garda Station for several years before disappearing.
Also investigated will be an incident where Ms McGlinchey crossed the border with a lunch-box containing live ammunition and shotgun rounds, and several incidents where Ms McGlinchey was arrested or searched.
The border-crossing incident, at the Lifford/Strabane Border route, led to a major police alert as a result of which the RUC had to seal off the town.
Despite this and other incidents, no charges were ever brought against Ms McGlinchey.
Senior Donegal gardaí have testified that there was no official "hands-off" policy relating to the alleged informer, but that other gardaí were instructed that they were not to interfere with the handling of Ms McGlinchey as an informer, which was the responsibility of detective McMahon, under the supervision of Supt Lennon. Ms McGlinchey has denied she was ever an informer, However, earlier this week retired Garda sergeant Des Walsh told the tribunal that "informers for one reason or another are given great latitude." "
The Garda authorities were closing their eyes to this lady's activities," he said.
"Members on the ground took the view things should be done differently. I voiced my opinion to the superintendent and he assured me everything was above board," he said.
However yesterday the tribunal website confirmed that Garda McMahon would begin his evidence next week. It is believed his evidence and cross-examination will take up to three weeks.