Morris Tribunal: An alleged informer who has accused Donegal gardaí of corruption was motivated by anger and a desire for revenge because she had been exposed, a detective at the centre of the allegations told the Morris tribunal.
Det Garda Noel McMahon said yesterday he believed Ms Adrienne McGlinchey was motivated by revenge because her cover as an informer had been revealed. Ms McGlinchey has denied she was ever a Garda informer or a member of the IRA.
"An informer anywhere along the Border is regarded as the lowest form of life, even lower than a drug pusher," Det McMahon said. Ms McGlinchey told the tribunal she was blackmailed into posing as an informer by Det McMahon because he threatened prosecution for cheque fraud and possession of bullets.
"I believe she invented these first two allegations of blackmail with a view to covering herself that she was blackmailed by me into doing certain things," he said.
Her allegations were probably made "as an act of vengeance or anger, which I can't blame her for", he said.
"I had promised her before Insp Lennon came on the scene complete anonymity and confidentiality.
"I can understand Ms McGlinchey's anger that I couldn't stop my wife talking. We did offer her confidentiality and we did let her down. It think it would be very difficult to go back to Donegal if she was regarded as an informer." The tribunal is investigating allegations by Ms McGlinchey that Supt Kevin Lennon and Det McMahon, arranged bogus explosives finds in Donegal during the early 1990s. Both gardaí have denied the allegations.
Supt J.P. O'Connor was aware of Ms McGlinchey's role as an informer, the detective continued. "He referred to her as 'Miss Piggy'. It even appeared in one of his journals."
Det McMahon told the tribunal he had taken photographs of three mortar-like rockets in Supt O'Connor's office. The rockets were given to him by Ms McGlinchey.
"I had a lot more on my mind. I thought the suspension would be cleared up in a few months," he said, when asked why he had not told this to the Carty inquiry team.
Tribunal counsel Mr Paul McDermott SC, said the tribunal had no documentary evidence of any photographs being taken of the rockets.
"My authorities would have been aware of it. C&S (Crime & Security) would have been aware of it. I was under their direction," Det McMahon said.
Mr McMahon said Ms McGlinchey told him she "was getting stuff made for the IRA" - including a warhead for a mortar rocket - at a local engineering company. However, when he contacted the firm, they knew of no order from her.
"So she was giving you false information? Whatever she told you could not be relied upon?" asked Mr McDermott.
"Yes that was false information," Mr McMahon said. "My inquiries proved totally negative."