Morris: Gardai were 'uneasy' over witness's release

A detective today told the Morris tribunal about unease in the force more than a decade ago over a high-ranking decision to free a woman detained in possession of walkie-talkie radio sets.

The woman involved was Adrienne McGlinchey, a key witness in the inquiry into garda activities in Co Donegal during the 1990s.

Detective Garda Martin Anderson recalled she had been arrested in 1992 while carrying walkie-talkies that had been stolen from Letterkenny fire station.

But he also said Ms McGlinchey had been detained for only about two hours before being released on the directions of a chief superintendent after she had made contact with Detective Garda Noel McMahon, another central figure in the investigation being headed by former High Court President Mr Justice Frederick Morris.

That development had led him to the conclusion that there was a close relationship between Noel McMahon and Adrienne McGlinchey, detective Anderson reported.

Fellow officer Sergeant James Lenehy later told him a decision had been taken to let Adrienne McGlinchey “run” to Buncrana with the radios, of which Anderson said: “I thought this was wrong and so did he. He was not happy.

“I presumed it was something to do with subversive activity, but I did not believe that. I believe it to be a wasted opportunity.

“She should have been charged with possession of the walkie-talkies and brought before the courts.

“She might have gone away from doing silly things around the town. But we had no say in the matter. You take these decisions, and that’s it.”

Ms McGlinchey – who earlier in the tribunal denied ever being a member of the IRA or passing to the gardai information about that organisation – was subsequently released.

The detective garda said he had not previously known that kind of protection was available to Ms McGlinchey, and he had been surprised.

He got the impression that Detective Garda McMahon had done “some kind of deal or something like that” with Ms McGlinchey.

He added: “I suppose anything was possible, but I did not think it would be be of much value.”

Later he told Brian Murphy, counsel for Noel McMahon, that he had not known that the fellow detective was Ms McGlinchey's “handler” in an effort to get information from her.

He agreed, too, that the team of detectives involved in that operation had “kept their cards close to their chest”.

In a reflection of his opinion of Ms McGlinchey, Detective Garda Anderson told Superintendent Lennon – who is acting for himself at the inquiry – that he did not believe the IRA would trust her to operate for them on “deliveries,” although they could have used her as a decoy.

Detective Anderson earlier denied that “very bad blood” had existed between officers in the division during the period being investigated.

He said he knew nothing of a poor relationship between currently suspended Superintendent Kevin Lennon – one of the key figures in the on-going investigation of garda corruption – and now-retired Sergeant Lenehy, both then based in Letterkenny.

Detective Garda Anderson told tribunal counsel Paul McDermott that the two men got on well as far as he was concerned.

He also rejected suggestions that bad blood had later developed between the pair, adding: “They appeared to get on well.”

A neighbour of Ms McGlinchey and her former friend Yvonne Devine later recalled the noise that came from their flat in Buncrana when she lived their in 1993.

Vivienne Eccles said the “sound of an appliance” kept her baby son awake at night because of its banging and hammering.

She noticed the gardai call at the women’s flat, described in evidence yesterday to contain “a bomb factory,” and a garda car had driven up on a number of occasions.

Ms Eccles also highlighted her unease at appearing before the tribunal, declaring while being quizzed about activities in the flat occupied by the two women: “I am just nervous of being here. I have my son to think of.”

Mr Justice Morris said he understood how she felt, but added: “I am sure there are a lot of people that don’t like being here. But at the same time, you have a citizen’s obligation to help if you can.”

Retired Detective Garda Patrick McAfferkey said his experience had been that some guards took Ms McGlinchey seriously, regarding her as an IRA suspect, but not all.

The judge chairman clashed with the former garda by saying he did not have the impression he was trying to help the inquiry when he was being pressed about information that had been fed back to him about Ms McGlinchey, adding: “Try to co-operate. You are avoiding answering questions.”

But Mr McAfferkey insisted: “I am helping the tribunal. I am answering the questions to the best of my ability.”

He said: “Adrienne McGlinchey was never seen in the company of Provos or terrorists to the best of my knowledge. Hardened terrorists would not bother with her.”

And later he added that he would not even let Detective Garda McMahon “near his house” after he had been placed under supervision by the Garda Siochana when allegations were made against him.