Signing counterfeit passport forms ‘wrecked my life’, says former garda

Disgraced former garda sergeant Finbarr Hickey spent a year behind bars when convicted of signing counterfeit passports that helped IRA figures go on the run.

He pointed the finger at a colleague who he argued got him to sign the forms as a favour, but took the full rap by never giving evidence against now-retired Leo Colton.

Judge Peter Smithwick found Hickey knew the applications were irregular or “funny”, but never thought they were destined for the Provisional IRA. “Despite his denials, I cannot exclude the possibility that Finbarr Hickey received some payment from Leo Colton in return for signing the passports,” the judge said.