Morris tribunal: A Donegal detective told his informer to wait in the convent grounds nearby while her flat was searched for explosives ingredients, before arresting her as other gardaí searched the residence, the tribunal heard.
The alleged informer, Ms Adrienne McGlinchey, had earlier that day spent three hours in his home, Det Noel McMahon said.
The detective said he wanted to talk to Ms McGlinchey about the find. "I found it easier to talk to her there than in custody."
Det McMahon said his first knowledge of the incident was when he received a phone call from Garda Tom Rattigan that Ms McGlinchey's landlord, Mr John Mackey, was concerned about items he saw in the flat.
Det McMahon said he was concerned as he did not know of subversive materials stored in the flat, and went to see Ms McGlinchey.
"I did question her. Her excuse was she hadn't had time to tell me but she did intend to keep me informed," he said. "I told her the way things happened, the place would have to be searched and I intended to arrest her. I did not participate in an active search myself," he said.
While the search was ongoing, Ms McGlinchey waited in the convent grounds nearby and McMahon went to see her.
"I told her to walk in. I can't remember if I arrested her inside or outside the flat, but I did arrest her under section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act."
He brought her to Burnfoot Garda Station, where she was questioned that night and the next morning, before being released without charge.
In his evidence last year, Mr Mackey said he saw two "metal tubular objects" under the bath. In the bedroom he saw "a finned object" under the bed and a bag of fertiliser by the bed.
"I know nothing of these items," Det McMahon said. He made contact with Insp Lennon, who was at a meeting in Letterkenny, at lunchtime. "I told him as much as I knew at that time."
Earlier the detective was questioned about a major find of home made explosives materials involving Ms McGlinchey at the Derry border. Ms McGlinchey transported ground fertiliser and icing sugar, the constituents of home made explosive, on January 11th, 1994.
Tribunal chairman, Mr Justice Frederick Morris, asked Det McMahon how, if it was after 8 p.m., he got in touch with Ms McGlinchey to get the details of the operation that she would make a drop at the Border at 9 p.m. "the higher authorities were making all the plans to intercept Ms McGlinchey and the find prior to that information coming through.
"If I remember correctly, you told us you left Buncrana at 8 p.m," said the chairman.
Det McMahon said he learned there was a meeting in progress when he arrived at work at 7 p.m. He said he could be "15 or 20 minutes out" on when he left Buncrana Garda Station.
"I cannot say for definite how I managed to convey the information to Ms McGlinchey," he said, but once he had, he would have given "the balance of the information" to Insp Lennon at Burnfoot.
The detective had to get information to Ms McGlinchey that she would not be arrested for her part in the operation, and collect information from her about how the planned drop of explosive materials would take place.
"The trouble with that account is there is not time for you to make contact with Ms McGlinchey," said the chairman. "The story just doesn't hang together."
"I can't honestly recall what way I conveyed that information but she got the information," Det McMahon said.
Det McMahon said a promise was secured from Det Supt Denis Fitzpatrick and Insp Kevin Lennon "that she wouldn't be arrested at the scene", that she would make the drop and leave the scene. However senior officers understood Ms McGlinchey was to transport the explosive ingredients across the border, not drop them off at Bridgend, Mr McDermott said.
"I certainly didn't give that information," Det McMahon said. "I firmly believe the checkpoint and stop point was a precaution. Had she received final instructions they might make a dash for the border, make a straight run."
Noel McMahon is one of two detectives alleged to have prepared explosives, together with Ms McGlinchey, that later turned up in bogus garda arms finds.
Both Garda McMahon and Superintendent Kevin Lennon, suspended at present, have denied the claims and Ms McGlinchey has persistently maintained she never had an informer's role.