Morris TribunalThe detective at the centre of allegations of bogus arms finds in Co Donegal a decade ago has been asked about two "letters of satisfaction" written by him in 1996 stating he knew of no complaint against his superior, Supt Kevin Lennon.
Asked about the letter, Det Garda Noel McMahon said: "That was a decision I made myself. It was the strongest way I could... of reassuring Supt Lennon that I did not make any allegations damaging to his career."
Giving evidence for a 12th day, the detective said he typed the letter after being told a colleague, Det Sgt Jim Leheny, was reporting him as saying he could "have Lennon suspended in 20 minutes".
In the letter, Det Garda McMahon wrote: "I do not know anything that would endanger his career or that I could say about him to endanger his career. I have never known Supt Lennon to act illegally while participating in any operation."
Det Garda McMahon said he was annoyed at the suggestion he could have Supt Lennon suspended, and "I felt committing it to writing was the strongest way to do it".
He said he did it "of my own free will". Supt Lennon had confronted him about what he (McMahon) was alleged to have said.
Asked if Supt Lennon had any input into this letter, Det Garda McMahon replied, "Absolutely none".
He said that when he gave the typed draft to Insp Lennon, the inspector said he should give it to Det Sgt Leheny.
The inspector then gave him some bullet points for a letter he could give to Det Sgt Leheny, and Det Garda McMahon made a handwritten note of these points.
The detective said he did not remember if Supt Lennon had asked him what it was he was supposed to know that could have led to the then inspector being suspended in 20 minutes.
Tribunal chairman Mr Justice Morris said: "I would have thought without some concrete object it's an overreaction to write a letter of this sort."
"That was not my view at the time. I was annoyed about it, I didn't think it was an overreaction," replied Det Garda McMahon.
"And you never thought to find out what it was you were supposed to know, what it was, this bit of dynamite that was going to blow Lennon out of the water?" said Mr Justice Morris.
"I tried to find out but I didn't find out," the detective said. He said he had asked Supt Lennon what it might refer to, but Supt Lennon didn't know. "It was an allegation without foundation."
The handwritten "letter of satisfaction", which consisted of a draft of a letter for Det Sgt Leheny, did not address any specific allegation of wrongdoing, the detective said.
"From the information I had from Lennon, Sgt Leheny went in and made this wildcat allegation that I could have him taken down and suspended in 20 minutes," Det Garda McMahon said.
Earlier Supt Lennon intervened from the floor of the tribunal and said he was "hurt grievously" by allegations that he had accepted bribes.
Supt Lennon, who is representing himself at the hearing, referred to a note in Det Noel McMahon's notebook relating to an allegation that he had accepted £6,000. He said that the Carty Inquiry had already investigated his bank accounts.
"The allegations are false," he said. Supt Lennon added that allegations that he had had extra marital affairs were also "totally false and untrue".
Both Det Garda McMahon and Supt Lennon have denied making bogus arms and explosives finds.