RUC paper 'alleged IRA informant'

An RUC intelligence document asserting Det Sgt Owen Corrigan of Dundalk Garda station was an IRA informer has been shown at the Smithwick Tribunal this morning.

The document, dated “mid-1985” and labelled “HMG 33”, was said to be a précis of a broader special branch intelligence report, known as an SB50.

It was headed “PIRA activity. No downward dissemination” and reported: “Person A heard that Owen Corrigan a sergeant in the Garda special branch in Dundalk is helping out with the PIRA. Person A states that Corrigan is keeping both the boys and the organisation well informed and he lets the boys know what the security forces are doing in the North when he can.”

The references to “the boys” and “the organisation” were not specifically defined.

However, doubts were immediately cast on the accuracy of the précis document by counsel for An Garda Síochána Diarmuid McGuinness SC who said it may not accurately reflect the initial SB50 intelligence.

The tribunal then agreed to “park” the issue pending clarification.

The issue arose during the evidence of a former deputy head of intelligence of the RUC who said he could not recall the précis document or the more detailed report that gave rise to it.

The former officer referred to only as Witness 24 said he believed such information would have been conveyed to An Garda “probably” face-to-face given its sensitivity.

However, he said he had no knowledge of such a report regarding Det Sgt Corrigan that was allegedly made to Supt Tom Curran of Monaghan Garda Station.

Counsel for the tribunal Fintan Valentine told Witness 24 the tribunal had heard such suspicions about Det Sgt Corrigan were conveyed by Supt Curran to Garda Headquarters at the request of RUC Supt Bob Buchanan.

Supt Buchanan and his superior officer chief supt Harry Breen were later killed by the IRA in an ambush in south Armagh minutes after they left a meeting in Dundalk garda station on March 20 1989.

The Smithwick Tribunal is inquiring into suggestions of garda collusion in the murders.