Morris tribunal:A ex-detective sergeant has claimed at the tribunal that a former colleague was the author of two documents faxed to Opposition justice spokesman Jim Higgins in 2000, alleging high-level corruption within the force.
The first fax, sent to Mr Higgins on June 20th, 2000, led to a meeting with the then minister for justice, John O'Donoghue, and the appointment of Assistant Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy to investigate the claims.
A second fax to Mr Higgins in July 2000 was handed over to the the tribunal by the senator during discovery. "I can tell you categorically that I most certainly had no knowledge of the existence of that second fax until sometime in 2003 when Mr Brian Garvie from the tribunal spoke to me," former sergeant John White told barrister Kevin D'Arcy, who represents former garda PJ Togher.
Mr White said he was not behind the allegations in either of the documents. "I don't know exactly who constructed it but I have no doubt that PJ Togher typed it, as I have no doubt he typed the first fax," he said.
He pointed out that he had worked with a colleague named in the fax for a year and would not have misspelled her name.
"I'm terribly surprised and shocked that PJ Togher has given you instructions to allege before this tribunal that I am responsible for those faxes. He has done enough harm to me over the last seven years and if he had any shred of decency in him now, he'd stop this craziness."
He said he requested a meeting with Chief Supt Dermot Jennings in Dublin on March 23rd, 2000, at which he was advised to seek a transfer to the special detective unit in Dublin. The former sergeant said he had requested the meeting to explain how confidential documents had been seized in a search of his locker when he was arrested and questioned about allegations made by Bernard Conlon.