IRA supporters were infiltrating residents' groups in Dublin city centre at the time that drug addict Mr Josie Dwyer was beaten to death by anti-drugs vigilantes, a senior garda told a manslaughter trial.
Det Sgt Walter Kilcullen said it was common knowledge that IRA supporters were infiltrating community groups in inner city flats.
He also said some of the men accused of killing Josie Dwyer were tried in the Special Criminal Court, which was used to try people involved in subversive organisations.
Det Sgt Kilcullen told defence counsel, Mr Ciaran O'Loughlin SC, that gardai were concerned about vigilante movements in the flats at the time.
He agreed that one of the men accused of the killing, Mr William Kenny, was well respected and was actively involved in community groups.
It was the seventh day of the trial of Mr Kenny (55), of St Anthony's Road, Rialto and Mr Mark Alford (30), of Seagull House, Crumlin. Both have pleaded not guilty to the manslaughter of Mr Josie Dwyer in Basin Lane, Dublin on May 14th, 1996.
They also plead not guilty to violent disorder and assaulting Mr Alan Byrne on the same date.
Four other men were cleared of similar charges last Wednesday after Judge Patrick McCartan ruled that they had no case to answer.
Prosecuting counsel, Mr George Birmingham SC, read from Garda interrogation notes in which Mr Kenny said he had little sympathy for Mr Dwyer. Mr Kenny told Sgt Kilcullen Mr Dwyer and Mr Byrne were drug dealers who had "killed enough children as it is".
He also said Mr Dwyer was suspected of supplying drugs in the Fatima Mansions flat complex shortly before his death. He denied assaulting them and said he was not in a group of people who gathered around the two men at Fatima Mansions.
He said he couldn't remember if he was at a Concerned Parents anti-drugs meeting in Dolphin's Barn earlier that night. Asked if he had amnesia, he replied "I might have". He denied he was afraid to tell the truth or that he feared Mr Ronnie Byrne, who was also tried for the manslaughter of Mr Dwyer.
He said suspected drug dealers were called to Concerned Parents meetings and given an opportunity to defend themselves in front of residents. If residents voted in favour of expelling the person, they were given 24 hours to leave the area.
Earlier, Mr Birmingham read notes from Mr Alford's interrogation in which he told gardai he had his alibi "well rehearsed". Mr Alford also told Det Sgt Gerry McGrath that witness statements implicating him in the killing were "like something from a Disney adventure".
He told Garda Derek Spain, in another interrogation session, that he attended an anti-drugs meeting in Dolphin's Barn on the night of Mr Dwyer's death. He said he later went to a pub and named three women he met there. He said he was opposed to violence and hadn't heard any unusual noises that night.
The trial continues.