REPORT OF THE TRIBUNAL OF INQUIRY Set up Pursuant to the Tribunal of Inquiry (Evidence) Acts 1921-2002 into Certain Gardaí in the Donegal Division CHAIRMAN: The Honourable Mr. Justice Frederick R. Morris REPORT ON EXPLOSIVES ‘FINDS’ IN DONEGAL Solicitor to the Tribunal: Bernadette Crombie Term of Reference (e) Registrar to the Tribunal: Brendan O’Donnell REPORT OF THE TRIBUNAL OF INQUIRY Set up Pursuant to the Tribunal of Inquiry (Evidence) Acts 1921-2002 into Certain Gardaí in the Donegal Division CHAIRMAN: The Honourable Mr. Justice Frederick R. Morris REPORT ON EXPLOSIVES ‘FINDS’ IN DONEGAL Term of Reference (e) Solicitor to the Tribunal: Bernadette Crombie Registrar to the Tribunal: Brendan O’Donnell i Arna fhoilsiú ag Oifig an tSoláthair Le ceannach go díreach ón Oifig Dhíolta Foilseachán Rialtais, Sráid Theach Laighean, Baile Átha Cliath 2. Nó bealach ordú poist ó: Foilseacháin Rialtais, An Rannóg Post-Trádála, 51 Faiche Stiabhna, Baile Átha Cliath 2. Teil: 01-647 6834/5 Facs: 01-647 6843 Nó ó dhíoltóirí leabhar. Praghas: €5.00 To be purchased directly from: Government Publications Sales Office, Sun Alliance House, Molesworth Street, Dublin 2. Or by mail order from: Government Publications, Postal Trade Section, 51 St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2. Tel: 01-647 6000 Fax: 01-647 6843 Or through any bookseller. Price: €5.00 Prn 3091 © 2004 Government of Ireland Designed by: Langley Freeman Design Group Limited www.langleyfreeman.ie ii CONTENTS Chapter 1 APPROACH TO THE INQUIRY 1.01. The Inquiry . .3 1.02. Background . .3 1.09. A Basic Outline . .6 1.25. Structure of Authority . .12 1.26. Judicial Approach . .12 1.32. The Work of a Tribunal . .15 1.35. The Term of Reference Explained . .18 1.37. Breadth of the Tribunal’s Investigation . .20 1.43. Recommendations . .22 1.46. The Tribunal’s Plea for Assistance . .23 1.53. Assistance . .24 1.55. The Carty Investigation . .25 Chapter 2 THE PERSONNEL INVOLVED 2.01. The Personnel Involved . .29 Chapter 3 POLICE PROCEDURES AND STANDARDS 3.01. Expert Evidence on the ‘Provisional IRA’ . .33 3.03. Police Procedures and Standards . .34 3.07. Hiding Explosives . .35 3.10. Subversive and Ordinary Crime . .37 3.11. The Crime Scene . .38 3.14. Fingerprints . .39 3.15. Munitions . .39 3.17. Explosives . .40 3.20. The Crime File . .40 3.21. The Investigation . .41 3.24. Surveillance . .43 3.27. Informers . .44 3.30. Categories of Assistance . .46 3.32. Informers – Pitfalls and Advantages . .47 3.34. Safeguards as to Informers . .48 3.38. Controlling Informers . .51 3.41. Search Warrants and Arrests . .52 3.43. Structure of the Report . .53 iii Chapter 4 ADRIENNE MCGLINCHEY IN LETTERKENNY 4.01. Introduction . .55 4.07. The Protocol as to Documents . .56 4.10. Adrienne McGlinchey in Letterkenny . .57 4.14. Adrienne McGlinchey and Sergeant Bobby Mullally . .59 4.43. Conclusions on the Mullally Relationship . .68 4.53. Adrienne McGlinchey – Hugh Smith and Matt Tolan . .71 4.99. Conclusions on the Letterkenny Period . .87 Chapter 5 MS. MCGLINCHEY AND MS. DEVINE IN BUNCRANA 5.01. Introduction . .95 5.06. The Move to Buncrana . .97 5.08. Cheque Frauds . .98 5.12. Bullets in the Convent Grounds . .99 5.17. Treatment of Adrienne McGlinchey . .101 5.19. Mischief . .102 5.23. Angle-Grinder . .104 5.27. Inspector Lennon . .106 5.29. Seven Bullets . .106 5.34. Detective Sergeant Walsh’s Memo . .109 5.36. Point Inn . .111 5.37. Tripod Drawing . .112 5.39. Men in Black . .113 5.42. Another Tripod . .113 5.49. A ‘Kidnapping’ . .115 5.54. The Gun Incident . .118 5.65. More Metal Objects . .123 5.69. Walkie-talkies . .125 5.75. A Hoax Call . .127 5.77. Theft of Car Registration Plates . .128 5.80. Telephone Wire . .129 5.81. Shotgun Cartridges . .129 5.85. The ‘Confidential Interview’ of the 18th of May 1993 . .131 5.90. “Hands-Off” . .133 5.96. Comment . .136 5.98. Memorandum of Disquiet . .136 5.99. The Lack of Response . .137 5.109. A Search Called Off . .142 5.112. More Guns . .143 iv Chapter 6 THE FINDS BEGIN 6.01. Introduction . .145 6.02. Detective Garda Jones . .145 6.05. Bullets at the Flat . .146 6.08. Bullets to the District Officer . .148 6.18. The Strabane Importation (The First ‘Find’ of Paragraph (e)) . .151 6.31. Analysis of the Strabane Incident . ..