Retired garda denies warning colleagues over IRA links

A former Dundalk garda has dismissed British intelligence reports that he had warned colleagues of “unethical relationships” between the IRA and three named members of An Garda Síochána.

Garda Jim Lane, now retired, said he did not make the warnings. The security service intelligence reports were revealed at the Smithwick Tribunal last week. They had been compiled during the course of the tribunal and described by PSNI Det Chief Supt Roy McComb as reliable and accurate.

Four of the five reports related to intelligence reports that a garda in Dundalk passed information to the IRA. The fifth said Mr Lane had repeatedly warned of inappropriate relationships between members of the IRA and Dundalk sergeants Leo Colton, Finbarr Hickey and Det Sgt Owen Corrigan. But yesterday Mr Lane told the tribunal he had not known about any unethical relationships between the IRA and any member of An Garda, and in particular had never heard any rumours about the activities of Mr Corrigan.

The tribunal is investigating suggestions that a member or members of An Garda or other State employees colluded with the IRA in the 1989 murders of two RUC officers.