Morris tribunal: A Garda sergeant told the Morris tribunal yesterday that an alleged IRA informer was not charged after being found with a bag of bullets as they did not want to jeopardise the flow of information.
Garda Sgt Danny Kelly said that he and his former partner, Det Garda Noel McMahon, had made the joint decision not to prosecute Ms Adrienne McGlinchey, but now he thought it was the wrong decision.
The Morris tribunal, sitting in Dublin, has resumed hearings into complaints that some gardaí in Co Donegal may have been involved in hoax explosives and bomb-making equipment finds.
Allegations have been made against Det Garda McMahon and Supt Kevin Lennon, who have denied them.
Ms McGlinchey has denied she was an IRA informer, and has alleged she was involved in planting hoax explosives with the two gardaí.
Garda Kelly said that 10 years ago they had stopped Ms McGlinchey, and she had in her possession a bag full of bullets.
He had asked her where she got them, but she was not forthcoming.
He had kept the bullets in his locker for eight years.
"The bullets were placed in my locker as I had taken possession of them. There was no other reason," he said.
Ms McGlinchey was not charged because they did not want the flow of information about alleged terrorist action to dry up.
He had been of the opinion that she was a genuine informer.
"We were getting what we thought was valuable information and did not want to jeopardise that. It was a joint decision. Looking back, it was the wrong decision, but it was one we made at the time."
At the conclusion of Garda Kelly's evidence, the tribunal went into closed session and was then adjourned until tomorrow.