IRA link 'ignored', tribunal hears

An RUC superintendent who was killed by the IRA as he returned from a meeting in Dundalk Garda station had previously asked the Garda to investigate links between a member of the force in Dundalk and the IRA, the Smithwick Tribunal has been told.

Retired Chief Supt Tom Curran told the Smithwick Tribunal assassinated RUC Supt Bob Buchanan had voiced concern about a detective sergeant whom the RUC believed to inappropriately engaged with the IRA.

Mr Curran said Supt Buchanan had named the suspected garda as Det Sgt Owen Corrigan.

Mr Curran also said he had been separately warned by a person he believed to be a member of the IRA that Supt Buchanan’s name was on a list of people the IRA had targeted for assassination.

Supt Buchanan was killed in an IRA ambush as he returned from a meeting in Dundalk Garda station on March 20th, 1989. Also killed in the ambush was RUC chief superintendent Harry Breen, the most senior police officer to be killed in the ‘troubles’.

The Smithwick Tribunal is inquiring into suggestions that members of An Garda Síochána or other employees of the State colluded in the killings. Mr Corrigan has always denied the charge he was in any way involved in collusion in relation to the murders.

Mr Curran told Judge Peter Smithwick he believed Supt Buchanan was passing on the concern at the behest of the RUC intelligence, for delivery to senior Garda authorities. He said he personally voiced Supt Buchanan’s concerns to then assistant commissioner Eugene Crowley in Mr Crowley’s office in Dublin.

However the assistant commissioner never lifted his eyes from a file he was reading. ‘I quickly got the impression he didn’t want to hear’, said the witness.

Mr Curran also said he had sent a written report on the IRA threat to Mr Buchanan to Garda authorities but he could not say if either the written report or the verbal warning were acted upon.

He himself had taken the precaution of changing the venues and dates of meetings at which RUC officers were due to come south of the Border. Garda escorts to and from the Border were also available for RUC officers who requested them.

Responding to questions from Jim O’Callaghan SC counsel for Det Sgt Corrigan, Mr Curran said he was not suggesting that Det Sgt Corrigan had colluded in the murder of the RUC officers. He also said he had no evidence for such a suspicion and Mr Buchanan had offered him no evidence that Mr Corrigan was league with the IRA.

Mr Curran refused a request from Mr O’Callaghan to name the suspected IRA man who he said had warned him of Mr Buchanan’s impending assassination. He said he had never named the man as he believed there was a real risk that the man could be killed, if the IRA identified him as someone who gave information to the Garda.

The Tribunal continues tomorrow.