Sir, Eoghan Harris is incorrect when he states that: "O'Callaghan's claims for the period 1985-1990 have to be seen in the context of him building a cover with the Provisional IRA". In actual fact, Sean O'Callaghan repeated his claim that he murdered John Corcoran to the Sunday Times in 1992 and to the Boston Globe in 1994. (This claim was originally made to Gerard Colleran of the Kerryman in 1988).
In any case, common sense tells us that it must have been obvious to the IRA, in the wake of O'Callaghan's sudden disappearance from Kerry in 1985, that he was, in all probability, a Garda informant. Therefore, it beggars belief that Danny Morrison, described by Eoghan Harris as "Sinn Fein's top spindoctor", would have confided sensitive information to a suspected informant. Also, Danny Morrisson's version of his meeting with O'Callaghan in Crumlin Road Gaol is partly verified by Gerard Colleran of the Kerryman.
These spurious attempts to discredit Vincent Browne's intelligent analysis by Eoghan Harris, Ruth Dudley Edwards and O'Callaghan himself do not stand up to scrutiny. Ruth Dudley Edwards lauds investigative journalism as long as it stops short of examining claims made by critics of the IRA, even if such critics may have committed cold blooded murder. Natural justice is obviously not part of Dudley Edward's beliefs.
Many people believe that this philosophy, of being less than enthusiastic in pursuing those whose actions could, inadvertently, be of propaganda value to the IRA, may have discouraged thorough investigations into the Dublin and Monaghan bombings of May, 1974 - the greatest single atrocity in the history of the recent "Troubles". - Yours, etc.,
Mullhuddart,
Dublin 15.