The Morris tribunal was set up in March 2002 to inquire into complaints that some gardai in Co Donegal may have been involved in 'finds' of hoax explosives and bomb-making equipment.
In particular, it was asked to examine discoveries on September 11th 1993, November 19th 1993, January 11th 1994, March 14th 1994, June 4th 1994, June 13th 1994 and July 18th 1994. The tribunal's terms of reference also tasked it with carrying out a review of the management and investigation of these issues.
Under other paragraphs of the terms of reference, the tribunal will inquire into matters arising from the death of the cattle dealer Mr Richie Barron, whose body was found on a roadway in Townparks, Raphoe, Co Donegal in the early hours of October 14th, 1996.
Mr Barron's death was initially treated as a hit-and-run accident, but the investigation later became a murder inquiry. Complaints about the manner in which that murder inquiry was conducted became the subject of the so-called Carty Inquiry under Assistant Garda Commissioner Mr Kevin Carty.
Mr Justice Morris says in his interim report that it made sense for him to begin with the issues surrounding the alleged arms finds rather than with the investigation into Mr Barron's death, because it was necessary for him to establish first "in general terms" how the gardai in Donegal were functioning in October 1996.