Morris: Senior garda retires, detective faces dismissal

A senior garda in Co Donegal is retiring from his post in the aftermath of the publication of the report from the Morris Tribunal into Garda corruption.

In a meeting yesterday with the Garda Commissioner about the Morris report, Chief Superintendent Denis Fitzpatrick announced that he will step down from his position on September 1.

Superintendent Fitzpatrick was formerly head of Letterkenny garda station. Currently in charge of the Garda's National Traffic Bureau, he was, in the findings of the Morris Tribunal, "gravely at fault" for not properly investigating the activities of Superintendent Kevin Lennon, Detective Garda Noel McMahon and Ms Adrienne McGlinchey, who they claimed was an IRA informer.

The Morris Tribunal yesterday found that two senior Donegal dectectives staged explosives finds in a bid to further their careers.

Gardaí have confirmed that a disciplinary letter has been sent to Detective Noel McMahon, one of those implicated.

Mr McMahon, who is currently on suspension, has been given time to defend himself but will be dismissed from the Force if his response fails to satisfy both the Garda Commissioner and the Minister for Justice, Michael McDowell.