Members of the Garda in Co Donegal were responsible for "setting up" arms finds a decade ago to advance their careers, the first report of the Morris tribunal has found.
Supt Kevin Lennon and Det Garda Noel McMahon were responsible for "setting up" arms finds, Mr Justice Frederick Morris said in his report. The two orchestrated the planting of ammunition and hoax explosives and also lied to the tribunal, the report says.
The report, published this morning in Government Buildings, found "gross negligence" on the part of senior gardaí in Co Donegal with regard to the handling of the arms 'finds'.
Mr Justice Morris said the tribunal had reluctantly been forced to come to the conclusion that there was corruption among a small number of individuals within the Donegal division. This situation could not have flourished and gone unchecked had the leadership of the division not behaved "negligently and slothfully", he said.
"In the discharge of their duties certain senior officers, as detailed in this report, fell below the standards that the public might reasonably expect of them. It was as a result of a combination of corruption and negligence that the extraordinary events which are detailed in this report came to pass."
The tribunal also said it believed that "it must have been plain" to gardaí closest to Ms Adrienne McGlinchey that she "could not possibly be a genuine informer".
It states that if any of the gardai in senior management in Letterkenny had "analysed the situation" in relation to Ms McGlinchey, particularly since her arrival in Buncrana in 1991, they would have come to the conclusion she was not a genuine Provisional IRA operative or informer.
The Morris tribunal was examining claims that Det Garda McMahon and Supt Lennon prepared explosive materials, together with alleged Garda informer Ms Adrienne McGlinchey, that later turned up in bogus arms finds.
Both gardaí have denied the claims and Ms McGlinchey has persistently said she never had an informer's role. They are both currently suspended from duty.
Speaking at the publication of the first report of the tribunal, the Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell, said the events in Co Donegal were "unprecedented and very frightening".
He said, however, that today was "not a day for the public to withdraw trust and confidence" in the Garda.
Mr McDowell said he had absolute confidence in the Garda Commissioner, Mr Noel Conroy, and in his ability to bring about the necessary changes recommended in the report.
Mr McDowell said today would be one of the darkest days for the Garda Siochána. He said he did not intend to minimise the gravity or the consequences of some of the issues outlined in the report, but said that tonight, in towns around the State, members of the Garda would be carrying out their duties and some of them would be putting their lives on the line.
Mr McDowell said he intended to stand by the force and not to "dump" on the Garda, but he said it was essential those involved in the activities outlined in the Morris tribunal report be brought to justice.
Under the tribunal's terms of reference, Mr McDowell said he had the option to either publish the report within 14 days of receiving it or to refer it to the High Court for directions where it might prejudice any criminal proceedings.
Following advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Attorney General, the Minister said he decided to publish the report.
Mr McDowell has today laid the report before both houses of the Oireachtas, although they are not currently sitting. He said the Government "fully accepts" the findings of the report and that they are "extremely serious".
The culpability of individual members of senior Garda management found to have been negligent will have to be addressed, as will the system of management whereby such matters could occur would also have to be addressed, Mr McDowell said.
The Minister said he is today writing to Supt Lennon, asking for any submission he may make before the Government decides on his position. The Garda Commissioner will decide on the position of Det Garda McMahon.
"By and large, since the foundation of the State, An Garda Siochána have served our community well - sadly too often at great personal cost," Mr McDowell said.
"I have no doubt that the sense of anger and outrage at the findings of the report will be felt most keenly by the vast majority of the members of An Garda Siochána who have been let down badly by a small number of their colleagues.
"But we would do well to remember that the bad behaviour of the few should not be allowed to traduce the reputation of the many members of An Garda Siochána who will continue to serve us in the best traditions of dedication, efficiency and loyalty to the State."