MORRIS TRIBUNAL: A Buncrana detective alleged to have organised bogus explosives finds a decade ago yesterday denied he had exerted pressure on his estranged wife to withdraw her statement to the Carty internal Garda inquiry into Donegal gardaí in 1999. Her testimony was later reinstated.
Det Garda Noel McMahon, giving evidence for the 20th day at the Morris tribunal, was questioned by Mr Cormac Corrigan SC for his estranged wife, Ms Sheenagh McMahon, about a decision by Ms McMahon to withdraw her statement outlining allegations against him to the Carty inquiry team. Ms McMahon withdrew her statement on the same day she met her husband at a family court hearing.
The detective agreed that he had spoken to his wife before she withdrew her statement, in answer to questions she asked him. He said he was happy when she withdrew her statement. "I was glad to see my wife withdraw the statement and I did not try to persuade her to do otherwise. Naturally I would have been glad to see the statement withdrawn."
Mr Justice Morris asked the witness what he had said to his wife. "Did you say things like, 'Look, if you go on with this I'm going to lose my job, the Carty team are out to get me'?"
"Yes, sir, I said that would be the outcome, yes," Det Garda McMahon said.
"Then there's no great difference between you?"
"Not in relation to the answer to that question, sir."
Asked if he now agreed he had had an input into Ms McMahon's decision to withdraw her statement, the detective said: "Well, if you call it an input, she asked questions and I answered questions. I didn't exert pressure, though."
The statement of withdrawal was taken from Ms McMahon by Garda Martin Leonard, on a day that the McMahons had an appearance at a family court hearing. A few days later Det Garda McMahon went to Sligo to give a statement to the Carty inquiry team.
The tribunal is looking into claims that Supt Kevin Lennon and Det Garda McMahon prepared explosives, together an alleged IRA informer, Ms Adrienne McGlinchey, for use in bogus arms finds by gardaí. They deny this, and Ms McGlinchey denies she was ever an informer or a member of the IRA.
Det Garda McMahon said he and Supt Lennon had "made a point of avoiding each other as regards discussions" about the allegations against them.
" It is incredible to suggest that the two of you never discussed this," Mr Corrigan said.