Minister pursuing Arms Trial queries

The Minister for Justice is to report to the Dail on the RTE Prime Time allegation that a statement made by a former head of military intelligence, Col Michael Hefferon, was heavily edited in advance of the 1970 Arms Trial.

Mr O'Donoghue told the Dail last night that he accepted there were aspects of the case which gave rise for concern.

"I know that the House will appreciate that it has not been possible in the limited period of time since the broadcast last night to fully inquire into the matter.

"However, such limited inquiries as have been possible in that short time would lead me to believe that more detailed are necessary.

"In the circumstances, I would be grateful if the House would give me an opportunity to pursue this matter further on the understanding that I will make a further report to the House when I am in a position to do so."

The Minister said the small number of files relating to the matter in his Department cast no further light on the allegations made in the RTE programme.

"I cannot substantiate or dismiss these allegations. Insofar as my Department is concerned, the evidence on which any judgment would have to be based is already in the public domain.

"The documentation does not permit us to draw any definitive conclusions as to what happened over 30 years ago, and I think it is fair to say that last night's programme reflected this fact."

Mr O'Donoghue said in December of last year, his Department had delivered to the national archives all material relating to the Arms Trial due to be released under the 30-year rule.

There was, however, a small amount of material that the Department felt was not appropriate for release at this time. "This material was withheld after careful examination and consideration, as the intention was, as I have said, to release as much material as possible."

He added that none of the material withheld related to the allegations made in the RTE programme. "They dealt in the main with matters that were and are concerned with operational procedures of the Garda Siochana dealing with sensitive intelligence information."

His present understanding was, he added, that his Department held no further records which would shed any light on allegations made in the programme.

The Minister was replying to Fine Gael TD, Ms Frances Fitzgerald, (Dublin South East).