Morris tribunalA garda sergeant told the Morris tribunal yesterday that he and Det Garda Noel McMahon decided to keep secret from colleagues information that was given to them by alleged IRA informant Ms Adrienne McGlinchey.
Garda Sgt Dan Kelly said he thought Ms McGlinchey was giving them the run-around but he and Det Garda McMahon wanted to keep the information secret.
The tribunal has been examining 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 alleged she was involved in planting hoax explosives with the two gardaí.
The module was adjourned yesterday until September. On June 25th in Donegal town the tribunal will begin hearing the module relating to the death of Mr Richard Barron.
Yesterday, chairman Mr Justice Morris asked about C77s, reports of information from informants sent to head office, with a copy usually kept in the local detective branch. He asked why Garda Sgt Kelly and Det Garda McMahon decided not to report locally on the information.
Sgt Kelly replied: "We didn't want every member to know it at that time because a lot of it did not refer to the Buncrana area and we were sceptical of Ms McGlinchey and maybe we weren't believing what she was telling or passing on." Asked why send a report to head office, Mr Kelly replied: "I was believing what I was getting."
Mr Justice Morris said: "I don't understand this. You can't ride two horses. Either the stuff was worth reporting or it wasn't and surely if it was worth reporting to head office, it was worth reporting locally."
The chairman told Sgt Kelly: "I can't believe that if you are a member of a police force and if the system is that you pool information among your colleagues, presumably not only for your joint advantage but for the security of the people of Ireland, and that you suddenly get your back up and say I'm not going to tell anybody else because she is our informant - there must be more to it than that."