Gardaí sorry for Border oversight

THE Garda Commissioner issued an apology last night after officers investigating the murder of British spy Denis Donaldson travelled to the North to interview people without permission.

Commissioner Noel Conroy apologised to the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) after two officers travelled into the jurisdiction to speak with journalists without prior clearance.

A statement from An Garda Siochána said: “Part of the investigation necessitated the interviewing of a number of media people both in this jurisdiction and in Northern Ireland.

“Two members of the Garda investigation team recently travelled to Northern Ireland where they met with some media people.

“The garda officers involved had assumed that advance notice had been given to the PSNI regarding this visit through the normal liaison channels. Due to an oversight, however, this was not the case. The Garda Commissioner has explained the position to the Chief Constable, PSNI, and apologised for this oversight.”

Gardaí added that the people interviewed were not in any way connected with the crime.

A spokeswoman for the PSNI said the apology had been accepted. “Cooperation between the PSNI and our colleagues in the Republic of Ireland remains high,” she said.

Mr Donaldson, a Sinn Féin official turned agent, was shot dead at his son-in-law’s dilapidated cottage near Glenties, Co Donegal on April 4.