FINAL REPORT Commission of Investigation (Ronan MacLochlainn) Mary Rose Gearty, S.C. 13 May 2016 ii Index Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................ ix Acronyms & Abbreviations ........................................................................................... x Executive Summary ....................................................................................................... xi Introduction ................................................................................................................................. xi Factual Background .................................................................................................................... xi The First Attempt ..................................................................................................................... xii Operation Morrison .................................................................................................................. xiii Events of 1st May 1998 .............................................................................................................. xv The Securicor Van is Spotted ............................................................................................... xvii The Securicor Van is Attacked .............................................................................................. xix The 1998 Investigation ........................................................................................................... xxv Subsequent Proceedings ...................................................................................................... xxvii Command Structures ............................................................................................................ xxvii Record Keeping and Disclosure ............................................................................................ xxx Accountability and Transparency ..................................................................................... xxxiii Conclusion ..............................................................................................................................xxxiv A. Introduction ........................................................................................................ 1 Factual Background ..................................................................................................................... 2 B. The Relevant Law and Terms of Reference .................................................. 5 The Convention ............................................................................................................................ 5 The Constitution and the Right to life .................................................................................... 6 Self Defence................................................................................................................................... 7 The Commissions of Investigation Act 2004 ......................................................................... 8 Burden and Standard of Proof ................................................................................................... 9 Terms of Reference ................................................................................................................... 10 This Investigation ...................................................................................................................... 10 The Hearings .............................................................................................................................. 11 This Report ................................................................................................................................. 12 C. AGS: Personnel and Structure ....................................................................... 13 National Surveillance Unit ....................................................................................................... 13 NSU - Hierarchy and Command Structure ......................................................................... 14 NSU - Normal Practice in 1998 ............................................................................................. 15 NSU - Duty Reports ................................................................................................................. 16 Intelligence Section ................................................................................................................... 17 Information-Sharing between the Surveillance and Intelligence units ........................ 18 Emergency Response Unit ....................................................................................................... 20 Information-Sharing with the SDU ........................................................................................ 21 D. Prior Knowledge ............................................................................................... 22 Context: Political Background and Previous Subversive Activity................................... 22 Pascal Burke ............................................................................................................................... 24 Ronan MacLochlainn................................................................................................................ 24 Male A .......................................................................................................................................... 25 Breatnach, Burke, Carney, Forsyth, MacLochlainn and McAlister .............................. 25 The Relevant Duty Reports ..................................................................................................... 26 Duty Report 7th April 1998 ...................................................................................................... 27 Duty Report 8th April 1998 ...................................................................................................... 28 15th April 1998 ............................................................................................................................ 28 iii Duty Report 20th April 1998 .................................................................................................... 29 24th April 1998 ............................................................................................................................ 29 The Raiders’ First Attempt ..................................................................................................... 30 What the NSU Observed ......................................................................................................... 31 What brought the NSU to Heuston Station? ..................................................................... 32 One or Two Sports Bags? ....................................................................................................... 35 The Contents of the Sports Bag ............................................................................................. 37 The Extent of the CCTV footage .......................................................................................... 39 Conclusion: Events of 24th April ............................................................................................ 41 24th April – ERU Operational Briefing Order ...................................................................... 41 Operation (Van) Morrison ....................................................................................................... 42 What the ERU knew ................................................................................................................ 43 25th April - Tracking Devices................................................................................................. 44 A Week without a Report: 25th April to 1st May .................................................................. 44 The Intelligence Files ............................................................................................................... 45 The List of Cash-In-Transit Escort Vehicles ..................................................................... 48 Other Evidence relevant to Prior Knowledge ...................................................................... 49 The NSU Members on Duty on 1st May ............................................................................. 49 The ERU Members on Duty on 1st May ............................................................................. 50 No SDU Arrest Team .............................................................................................................. 51 No Notice to the Army EOD .................................................................................................. 52 No Notice to local Gardaí ........................................................................................................ 52 Flight Plans ................................................................................................................................ 53 Reports of Prior Knowledge after the Incident .................................................................. 55 The Garda Representation Association grants an Exemption ......................................... 55 What the Raiders Say ................................................................................................................ 57 Advance Trips to Wicklow ....................................................................................................