Smithwick told of 'concerns' over garda

A former Garda chief superintendent from Dundalk has told the Smithwick Tribunal he was concerned about the "extracurricular" activities of a detective sergeant, but did not believe the man was an IRA mole.

Former Chief Supt John Nolan said there were suspicions that former Det Sgt Owen Corrigan was involved in smuggling cars into the Republic from Northern Ireland.

Mr Nolan agreed with counsel for the tribunal Justin Dillon that a smuggling operation of that nature could not have taken place without the sanction of the Provisional IRA in the Border region.

The tribunal is investigating suggestions that a member or members of Dundalk Garda station colluded with the IRA in the murder of two RUC officers in March 1989.

Chief superintendent Harry Breen, the highest ranking RUC officer to be killed in the Troubles, and his fellow officer Supt Bob Buchanan were killed in an IRA ambush minutes after leaving a meeting at Dundalk Garda station.

They had met Mr Nolan as part of a plan to combat the smuggling activities of Thomas "Slab" Murphy, the tribunal has heard.

Giving evidence this morning Mr Nolan said Mr Corrigan was a bad influence on other officers and in a written disciplinary report Mr Nolan had referred to the "adverse effect his [Mr Corrigan's] conduct is having on morale and discipline generally".

He said Mr Corrigan had been investigated for shoplifting and the unauthorised taking of a Garda car and was the owner of three properties.

Mr Nolan said at least two attempts were made to transfer Mr Corrigan out of Dundalk but the moves were appealed and were ultimately not successful. Mr Nolan told the tribunal he was aware that when Mr Corrigan had served in Drogheda station, senior officers had banned him from entering the station when he was on duty. If Mr Corrigan had been transferred back there it could have been a cause of embarrassment he said.

Mr Nolan said despite the concern about Mr Corrigan he did not believe he was an IRA informer. He said he did not believe any garda in Dundalk was an informer. But he agreed with Justin Dillon SC for the tribunal that an inquiry led by former assistant commissioner Ned O'Dea was designed to rule out the possibility of there being an informer.

Counsel for Mr Corrigan told the tribunal he objected to the inference that there was anything unprecedented in a Garda officer having a number of properties and being involved in other work while serving as a garda. He also said there was no positive evidence of any smuggling on the part of Mr Corrigan.