Top garda quizzed over 'plan to attack army checkpoint'

A former top garda was quizzed at length today about the procedure he followed after being told of a potential IRA attack on a British Army border-side security checkpoint nearly a decade ago.

Ex-Superintendent Michael Duffy, giving evidence for a second day at the on-going Morris tribunal into Co Donegal garda corruption allegations, was pressed in particular about the time he received information about the planned terrorist strike at Beleek, Co Fermanagh, in 1994.

Mr Duffy said he was told about the incident – which centred on reports of an IRA scheme to use a workmen’s caravan that had been left beside the checkpoint – by then-Detective Inspector Kevin Lennon, a central figure in the Morris probe.

He recalled contacting the Royal Ulster Constabulary about the affair.

But, responding to tribunal lawyer Anthony Barr, he refused to accept that he had not received information about the proposed attack ahead of finds of terrorist equipment near Rossnowlagh.

And, questioned about any doubts he might have had about the validity of those discoveries, he answered: “I always believed that the finds were genuine IRA paraphenalia. Nothing else crossed my mind.”

The tribunal, chaired by former High Court President Mr Justice Frederick Morris, and currently on its 101st day, is examining a range of allegations about garda operations in Co Donegal throughout the 1990s.

The current phase of the inquiry is focusing on claims that alleged informer Adrienne McGlinchey, together with two now-suspended detectives, Mr Lennon, who currently holds the rank of Superintendent, and Garda Noel McMahon, prepared explosives for subsequent use in bogus garda arms finds.

The two officers have both denied those claims, and Ms McGlinchey has insisted she never had an informer’s role.

The inquiry recently returned to the explosives dimension of the allegations against gardaí after a gap of four months.

In the meantime, the tribunal looked into separate allegations, centring on controversy over the mystery roadside death six years ago of Raphoe cattle dealer Richie Barron. That module of the process has now been adjourned until the New Year, and a series of other issues are also due to be dealt with later.

The tribunal was established by order of the Oireachtas almost two years ago to inquire into a wide-ranging series of claims about garda activities in the Co Donegal division. In all, the investigation is expected to go on for at least two years.