Morris tribunal: The former head of the Donegal division has denied ever contacting his superintendent in the Letterkenny district to tell him there was an IRA "mole" in his office, the Morris tribunal has learned.
But Letterkenny District Supt John J. Fitzgerald insisted to the tribunal that he had received a phone call at home one night giving him the information.
Chief Supt Denis Fitzpatrick did not recollect ever contacting Supt FitzGerald about a mole in his office, Mr Michael Durack, for the Garda Commissioner, told the tribunal. "He has no recollection of giving you information about a mole," Mr Durack said. "There was never any concern about sensitive information leaking to the IRA or other subversives," he said.
"I know he did because it was my home," Supt FitzGerald said. "I don't want to have members of my family coming here giving evidence but I can assure you that if it has to be, then yes. I'm absolutely positive." Supt Fitzgerald said that although he believed Ms McGlinchey was "the kind of person the IRA would use", she had never to his knowledge performed any task for them.
The tribunal is looking into the allegations of alleged informer Ms Adrienne McGlinchey, who says she, along with Det Noel McMahon and Supt Kevin Lennon, prepared explosives for subsequent use in bogus Garda arms finds. The two officers have denied those claims.
A Letterkenny woman had given evidence to the Morris Tribunal about her friendship with Ms McGlinchey, whose allegations are currently being examined at the public inquiry.
Ms Rosaleen O'Donnell said she got to know Ms McGlinchey when they worked together in a Letterkenny nightclub. She emigrated in 1988, but when she returned on holidays she stayed at her father's house in Rahan, and Ms McGlinchey would visit her at her home. She said she had not discussed the tribunal with Ms McGlinchey except in passing.