The Donegal towns of Buncrana and Letterkenny were "two prime locations" for members of the IRA "on the run" from Northern Ireland in the 1980s and 1990s, a retired garda told the Morris tribunal.
The area was also populated by members of the southern command "transferred to Border areas on active service" by the Provisional IRA, retired detective sergeant James Leheny said.
He told the tribunal there were five known female members of the IRA active in the area during the time. These women were "more dedicated and active on the Border than male members of the IRA", he said.
"These girls weren't going around drawing unwanted attention to themselves like Ms McGlinchey was. I have never seen any information in relation to Ms McGlinchey on a C77," Mr Leheny said. A C77 is a form for reporting subversive activity.
In the current module, the tribunal is examining allegations by Ms Adrienne McGlinchey that together with Det Noel McMahon and Supt Kevin Lennon she mixed explosives that were later used in bogus Garda finds of terrorist arms. Both men have denied those claims, and Ms McGlinchey denies she was an informer.
The Garda handlers of alleged informer Ms McGlinchey should have realised "at an early stage" that she and her friend Ms Yvonne Devine were not members of the IRA, Mr Leheny told the tribunal.
Mr Leheny (59), who served in Buncrana and Letterkenny in the 1990s, is giving evidence to the tribunal for the third day. He was questioned about "letters of satisfaction" written by Det McMahon stating that he had no complaint against Supt Lennon. These letters were written shortly after Det McMahon said he "could have Kevin Lennon suspended in 20 minutes", Mr Leheny said.
Mr Leheny told the tribunal this happened when he went to see the Buncrana detective at his home the day after a visit by the then Tánaiste Mr Dick Spring to Donegal.
Det McMahon would deny ever making such a comment, his counsel Mr Brian Murphy told the tribunal. He put it to Mr Leheny that he had pestered Det McMahon, "looking for dirt on Kevin Lennon". Mr Leheny said this was "totally untrue", and denied ever asking if Supt Lennon was having extra marital affairs, or inquiring into his financial affairs, or asking Det McMahon to break into Supt Lennon's office.
He said he discovered the "letter of satisfaction" the following Monday after he had told Supt Lennon of McMahon's allegation, and that it was a rebuttal of what Det McMahon had told him. "It was a letter guaranteeing his safety from any allegations McMahon might make in the future," said Mr Leheny.
Mr Murphy said Det McMahon had written the letter on his own initiative after Supt Lennon had asked him if he had made allegations against him.
The tribunal continues.