Claims of ‘outsider’ face new Garda chief

As he prepares to swear allegiance to the Irish State and take over as Garda commissioner, are there conflicts of interest surrounding former PSNI deputy chief Drew Harris, asks Security Correspondent, Cormac O’Keeffe

Many people will want Drew Harris to fail. That was what one seasoned Garda source told the Irish Examiner.

Conspiratorial talk often circulates when a new commissioner is about to take over.

But it is fair to say that it has reached a different level with the appointment of Harris.

Numerous Garda sources have raised serious concerns at the former PSNI deputy constable being given the job.

He will be the first person from a foreign police force to head An Garda Síochána.

The 53-year-old comes from a family with a tradition of service in the RUC and then the PSNI.

He joined the RUC in 1983. In 1989, his father, Alwyn, a senior RUC officer, was killed by the Provisional IRA in an under-car bomb, which also injured his mother. He received an OBE from Queen Elizabeth in 2010.

When he was assistant chief constable, between 2006 and 2014, Harris was in charge of intelligence gathering and covert and overt operations against crime gangs and dissident republicans.

He told the Smithwick Tribunal (investigating allegations of collusion by gardaí in the murders of two senior RUC officers) he was responsible for the “interface with the Security Service”, also known as MI5.

In his 11th-hour appearance at the tribunal in September 2012 (which started in 2005) he dramatically revealed he had intelligence relating to collusion involving a garda and the Provisional IRA in the killing of Chief Supt Harry Breen and Supt Bob Buchanan in March 1989 in south Armagh, after they left a meeting at Dundalk Garda Station. He said the intelligence from MI5 and PSNI was “accurate and reliable”.

The garda was unnamed, but it left a question mark over all gardaí, serving and retired, at the station, which was on the frontline in the fight against the Provisional IRA and its successors.

While Judge Peter Smithwick did not find direct evidence of collusion, he did conclude on balance that someone in Dundalk Garda Station did collude.

Gardaí were furious at the evidence, describing it in the tribunal as “nonsense on stilts”.

One garda, heavily critical of Harris’s appointment, said: “He was parachuted in in the 11th hour with

top-secret information and blows the Garda case [of no collusion] wide open and inflicts huge reputational damage to the gardaí around Dundalk.

He pits himself against the Garda, and now he has taken over the Garda. What is he now going to say to gardaí in Dundalk?

A second Garda source, also critical of his appointment, said that evidence at Smithwick “aggravated and annoyed” the Garda Security Service.

On Thursday, Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan issued a robust defence of the choice of Harris as commissioner, pointing out that it was the result of an independent appointments process operating under the Policing Authority.

Flanagan rejected any suggested slur that Harris was an “outsider”, adding forcefully that “he’s an Irishman” and that he was satisfied he would make an “excellent” commissioner.

A retired senior garda said: “No one is doubting he is Irish, but he is a member of what they call the Crown Forces. He served all his life for the British police service and MI5. His

security and that of his family is owed to the PSNI and MI5. He was trained by them and answered to them. It’s as simple as that.”

Other sources point out that no other security service would appoint either a foreigner or someone who worked in a foreign security service as head of their security service.

Sources said there are reasons why you want to keep information, and the sources of your information, secret from foreign security services.

One source pointed out that Garda Security & Intelligence may have sources across the border, possibly in government and civil service areas.

“They now see the former deputy head of the PSNI as head of the gardaí,” he said. “What will they make of that?”

Another source said that, as Garda commissioner, Harris will have full access to security information. “He is commissioner and head of security, unless that changes [referring to the Policing Commission report which is examining separating security from the gardaí].

He will be briefed fully. I can’t see any other way. He is head of state security and, in turn, has to brief the Government. He can’t be half-briefed or quarter-briefed.”

A source also expressed concern at our international reputation, with foreign security services “confused that a senior UK officer is now head of our security service”.

A case was recently taken in the High Court by Belfast man Ciarán MacÁirt seeking a judicial review of the appointment, citing his lack of independence due to his former roles. The court rejected the application.

Sources critical of the appointment, who spoke to the Irish Examiner, stress they are not critical of the man, rather the job he comes from. “He’s a very honourable man, a hard-working person who has seen a lot,” said one.

One detective pointed out that Harris was “very supportive” to the gardaí in their investigation into the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe in January 2013.

Another garda, who has worked with Harris, said: “He was well regarded, though there were mixed views, which is normal.”

This individual added: “He worked very closely with MI5. There may be questions but you have to trust and depend on his integrity.

Sources said intelligence Harris has from his previous job must now be passed on to gardaí. “He claims to be in possession of information into the murder of two RUC men and a garda, current or retired, who could be prosecuted for conspiracy to murder or even murder,” said one source. “He’s now in charge of the gardaí and his first duty on September 3 is to tell investigators that Joe Bloggs was involved.”

He said the same was true in relation to the murder of Tom Oliver, a Louth farmer tortured and murdered in July 1991 by the Provisional IRA, which claimed he was passing information to the gardaí. His family denied this.

During the Smithwick Tribunal, Harris wrote the name of the suspected killer on a note and handed

it to the judge.

If he has information about a murder, it is his sworn duty to pass it on,” said a source. “He can’t have it both ways.

On top of these issues, there are campaigns by a variety of groups, including the cross-border Relatives for Justice Group. They called for Harris’s resignation after a High Court judgment in 2017. Harris was in charge of the PSNI Historic Inquiries Team and the Belfast court ruled against him for refusing to consider an overview investigation into State collusion with the notorious Glenanne gang in the 1970s.

This same gang has been linked to the Dublin and Monaghan bombings and groups such as Justice for the Forgotten are seeking access to official files.

One garda said: “If he has information on this, he can’t hold on to it.

The Omagh Support and Self Help Group told the Irish Examiner earlier this month that Harris was part of the PSNI which had frustrated their efforts to get access to documents.

The group said Harris could now, as commissioner, decide to help them to get to the truth.

Harris is still obliged to adhere to the British Official Secrets Act, yet will be swearing his oath of allegiance to the Irish State after midnight on Sunday, when he will also sign the Irish Official Secrets Act.

It is likely that when he takes media questions on Tuesday, he will be pressed for clarity on his position on all these matters.

However, many Garda sources are supportive of Harris and do not see any major conflict. “I don’t see why he won’t be anything other than good for the organisation,” said one senior officer not attached to Garda HQ.

“You take the man at face value and as a professional policeman. He would not have taken this job unless he thought it through. At least give him a chance.”