Ex-garda: Claim of ‘Provos’ threat is lie

A garda has rejected suggestions he and another detective were asked to “put the frighteners” on Martin Graham in June 1997 after gardaí lost trust in the former British soldier as an informant in the Sophie Toscan du Plantier murder investigation.

Michael J McCarthy, now retired, denied Mr Graham’s claims he was threatened with the “Provos” during his detention by Garda McCarthy and Detective Garda Bart O’Leary in June 1997.

Mr McCarthy said a colleague of his had been blown up by the Provos and it “pains me to even use the word”. He agreed the word ‘Provos’ would also resonate with Mr Graham as he had previously served with the British Army in the North.