A top-ranking garda who was appointed to investigate anonymous allegations that the Carty inquiry into corruption within the force in Co Donegal was corrupt has told the tribunal he welcomes the establishment of the Garda Ombudsman Commission, due to begin work in early May.
Deputy Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy was responding to questions from the tribunal about whether it was possible for gardaí to investigate gardaí.
"As a deputy commissioner in An Garda Síochána, I have lived with this for many years, and I think it is very welcome that the ombudsman commission will hopefully be start work shortly," Mr Murphy said.
"That perception is always there, no matter how thorough or how deep the investigation of a member of the police force of any country will make into another member against whom an allegation is written." Mr Murphy told the tribunal how hundreds of serving and former gardaí were interviewed in an attempt to identify the anonymous source of allegations that compromised the Carty inquiry into corruption within the force in Co Donegal.
Thirty detective inspectors working in the Dublin area were interviewed, and 46 retired gardaí in Co Donegal, based on information as to the source of the allegations contained in a fax sent to Fine Gael TD (now Senator and MEP) Jim Higgins on June 25th, 2000.
The investigators also examined the property books in Blanchardstown Garda station, because of an allegation that Det Sgt John White had a store of stolen property. Firearms records were also examined.
Mr Murphy said that he found no evidence to support any of the allegations in the document sent to Mr Higgins.
Meanwhile, journalist John Mooney has today been interviewed by investigators from the tribunal, which is investigating the source of anonymous allegations sent to two Opposition politicians claiming the Carty inquiry into Garda corruption in Co Donegal was compromised.
Mr Murphy told the tribunal that when gardaí interviewed Mr Mooney about a story he had written on the allegations, Mr Mooney told gardaí he had seen a document with "a Garda stamp" which appeared to come from crime and security branch of the force.