Gardaí may investigate computer facility over alleged arms link

GARDAÍ in Galway are considering whether to investigate the activities of a specialised Compaq computer engineering group after a formal complaint was lodged by Irish CND and anti-war activists.

Supt Tony Finerty of Galway’s Mill Street Garda Station, said a letter of complaint had been received and an investigation would be considered.

The complaint relates to whether a specialised section of Galway’s Compaq facility, which designs and produces software used in the US and French nuclear weapons programmes, was in breach of military export laws.

Compaq, now owned by Hewlett Packard, is already the focus of a Department of Enterprise inquiry on the activities of the firm’s High Performance Technical Computing (HPTC).

Internal documents showed the HPTC group played a crucial role in the development of the French and US nuclear weapons programmes and raised serious questions as to whether the company had complied fully with Ireland’s military export controls.

The complaint was submitted jointly by Irish CND member Billy Fitzpatrick and activist Eoin Dubsky.

Mr Dubsky is to appear before Tulla District court today on charges relating to an incident in which he spray painted anti-war slogans on a US military plane at Shannon airport.

In the complaint the activists cite an extensive list of international treaties and agreements and say they believe a crime has been committed at the Galway facility which should be probed.

A Department of Enterprise spokeswoman said last night its inquiry into Compaq’s involvement in weapons of mass destruction was ongoing.

The department has asked Compaq a series of formal questions about the nuclear-related work of the Galway HPTC group. The company has been asked to formally clarify which nuclear-related goods were being sent outside Europe and whether or not it was aware of the nuclear-related end use of the exports.

In a statement released yesterday Hewlett Packard said it had responded to all queries put to it by the Department of Enterprise and was awaiting the department’s response.

Meanwhile, the IDA, which has given over 8m in state grants to Compaq, has said it will withdraw grants if the inquiry finds a breach of the law.