Garda 'unease' over possibility of IRA mole, tribunal told

A FORMER Border superintendent of An Garda Síochána has told the Smithwick Tribunal there was “unease” among senior gardaí that there may have been an IRA mole in Dundalk Garda station.

Retired Supt Tom Connolly said he had “possibly” been aware of the concern before being posted to Dundalk in November 1988, but said he had “certainly” heard of such unease while he was serving there. He said he had been told “by some sources there was unease about a certain individual”.

Mr Connolly did not name the officer who was the subject of the unease, and Justin Dillon SC, for the tribunal, said it would be a matter to which the tribunal would return.

The tribunal is inquiring into suggestions that members of An Garda Síochána or other employees of the State colluded in the killings of two RUC officers as they returned to Northern Ireland after a meeting in Dundalk Garda Station in March 1989.

The IRA claimed responsibility for the killing of Chief Supt Harry Breen – the highest ranking RUC officer ever to be killed in the Troubles – and his colleague Bob Buchanan.

Yesterday, Mr Connolly told Judge Smithwick he had “kept an open mind” on the suspicions of there being a mole in the Garda station.

He said he ran an investigation into what had occurred during the officers’ final hours in the Garda station.

Mr Connolly said the IRA had the capacity to carry out the assassination of the two RUC officers and would not have needed inside assistance in order to organise the ambush.

He said the IRA could have been monitoring the RUC officers for “months, possibly years” and were well capable of setting up a surveillance operation.

The tribunal heard no breach of security had been highlighted by Mr Connolly’s investigation.

Mr Connolly told Judge Peter Smithwick that he had met Supt Buchanan on the day of the assassination.

He said he had returned from an early morning game of golf, arriving at Dundalk Garda station at about 2pm.

He had gone to his office and then the office of Supt Pat Tierney, where he saw Mr Buchanan.

They had a brief chat about security issues, and Mr Buchanan had mentioned he was to be transferred the following month.

He said he had met Mr Buchanan at least twice before – once on January 18th, 1989, when he met Mr Buchanan leaving Hackballscross Garda station in Co Louth.

The two men had spoken, and Supt Buchanan had invited him to an informal meeting in Newry Police station the next day.

This was the second meeting.

On their third meeting on the day of the assassination, Mr Connolly said he would see Mr Buchanan again, before the RUC officer’s transfer would take place.