Gardaí and North police deny rift over informant

A POTENTIAL key witness in the Omagh bombing investigation cannot be forced to agree to be questioned by police in the North, the Gardaí said yesterday in response to claims of a rift between the two forces over the man’s availability for questioning.

Paddy Dixon, a car thief and informant on the Real IRA who is currently in the witness protection programme, may have crucial information about those involved in the planning and execution of the 1998 atrocity.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland said yesterday that it had made a number of requests to Mr Dixon’s legal representative for him to be made available for interview. This had not yet happened but the PSNI would continue to make the requests, a spokesperson said last night.

The Gardaí also issued a statement yesterday. “The Garda Síochána have always been anxious to have all requests for interviews complied with by those who wish to carry them out. However, the Gardaí cannot compel compliance by the person known as Witness X.

“Furthermore the Commissioner (Noel Conroy) wishes to point out in the strongest terms possible that the Garda Síochána enjoy an excellent relationship with the PSNI and the relationship has been cemented further with the implementation of the Patten Report.”

Mr Dixon acted as an informant for the gardaí while stealing cars for use by the Real IRA. A few days before the Omagh bombing he was asked to steal a particular car by the organisation but was later told that members had acquired a similar vehicle elsewhere. He passed this information on to his Garda handler.

Reports over the weekend alleged the Gardaí were blocking attempts by the PSNI to interview Mr Dixon.

But a PSNI spokesperson said: “We are very grateful to the Gardaí for their continued co-operation on the Omagh investigation and other investigations. Contrary to newspaper reports, the relationship between the PSNI and the Gardaí is extremely healthy on a professional and personal level.

The Garda statement said requests had been received from the PSNI for assistance to facilitate an interview with Witness X.

“These requests have been passed on through Witness X's legal representative for him. Requests have also been made to such legal representatives by the PSNI and others and response is awaited.”