The whistleblower, the spy and the explosive tale of garda corruption

IT began with a broken marriage and ended yesterday with two gardaí labelled corrupt liars and 17 others branded grossly negligent or obstructive.

The entire force is now facing its darkest day in more than 80 years of service to the State.

Five years ago, Sheenagh McMahon’s extraordinary claims implicated her estranged husband, Detective Garda Noel McMahon, and Superintendent Kevin Lennon in the planting of hoax explosives around Donegal. She said their activities spread over the Border into the North in the early 1990s.

In the fallout from those claims, senior gardaí from the Donegal division who gave evidence to the tribunal have been summoned to meet the Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy. That meeting may take place as early as today. Fifteen members of the force will face disciplinary action of varying severity, up to and including dismissal.

However, the DPP has recommended no prosecutions relating to the planting of explosives, or in relation to several accusations of assault levelled against Det Gda McMahon, including one of pointing a cocked gun at a colleague and another of attacking his wife.

When Sheenagh McMahon first approached gardaí five years ago, her claims presented an appalling vista: of inept, corrupt gardaí. But yesterday, Mr Justice Frederick Morris reported that Ms McMahon’s evidence was completely truthful.

His report found Det Gda Noel McMahon and Supt Kevin Lennon planted explosives and were guilty of corruption; their corrupt activities were motivated by the sole desire to further their careers; and, crucially, their corrupt activities could never have happened without gross failures within Garda management and the negligence of senior officers up to the rank of Chief Superintendent.

It all started with a fist. The 18-year marriage between Sheenagh McMahon and her husband Noel had been a volatile one, and it was slowly dissolving in an atmosphere of violence, threats and recrimination.

Ms McMahon, now aged 43, finally had enough abuse one night in late March 1999. A telephone call from Det Gda McMahon to his estranged wife’s sister - during which she believed a threat was issued - led directly to Ms McMahon contacting the gardaí. In her statement, Ms McMahon crucially named supposed IRA informer Adrienne McGlinchey, who senior officers regarded as a bona fide double agent, despite grassroots gardaí regarding her as a ‘Walter Mitty’ character. That statement set in train a chain of events that culminated in a tribunal of inquiry and yesterday’s initial findings.

Justice Minister Michael McDowell said the findings were “unprecedented and frightening” and vowed to fast-track reform of the force. A Garda working group has been set up to examine the recommendations in the report. These include an urgent review of the way informers are handled and an examination of the relationship between Garda headquarters and divisions, and the appointment of senior officers.

Mr Justice Morris also criticised the culture of secrecy within the force, where members back each other up to the point where they are prepared to frustrate legitimate investigations. He concluded: “If there is a lack of proper management at senior level, corruption at middle level and a lack of review throughout the force, then it is certainly possible that in similar circumstances, similar corruption will arise.”

Supt Lennon and Det Gda McMahon, who still maintain their innocence, are both suspended. It is likely they will be thrown off the force. Senior serving members, including a Chief Superintendent and two Superintendents, face disciplinary action, as do around 10 others of a lesser rank.

The findings:

Superintendent Kevin Lennon and Detective Garda Noel McMahon orchestrated the planting of ammunition and hoax explosives in Donegal in 1993 and 1994.

The two officers lied in evidence to the tribunal.

Senior gardaí in Donegal - including Border Chief Supt Denis Fitzpatrick, Chief Supt Sean Ginty, Supt Michael Duffy and Supt John P O’Connor - failed to uncover these activities and their negligence enabled the hoaxes to continue over time.

The lack of structural command between Garda headquarters and local management led to the situation in Donegal.

Adrienne McGlinchy was a mischievous woman who was used by Lennon and McMahon to further their careers.

Middle and lower-ranking gardaí did not have access to documents on how to handle informants.

An outside body should carry out a robust review on the system of dealing with informants and do periodic audits.

A manual on dealing with informers should be produced and circulated to all gardaí, not just senior officers.

There should be a system of review whereby senior gardaí inspect investigation files of their officers.

System of promotion should be examined.