Smithwick 'concerning republicans'

The Smithwick Tribunal is becoming a “significant issue” among republicans who are concerned it is uncovering information on past murders, the tribunal has been told.

According to a précis of intelligence information gleaned by the PSNI within the last year, and aired at the tribunal this morning, “members of the PIRA are anxious the tribunal complete its work as soon as possible”.

The précis also said key PIRA members “are aware some of the testimony to the tribunal is deliberately false and intended to bring it to an early conclusion”.

In a further development, the précis also implicated former Dundalk Garda sergeant Finbarr Hickey as a person – among other unnamed members of An Garda and Customs officers – who provided information to the PIRA “particularly forewarning of searched and arrests”.

The précis was described by PSNI det chief super Roy Mc Comb as “credible, reliable and accurate.

”A second intelligence précis went so far as to claim Mr Hickey had provided information to the IRA which assisted in the killings of RUC officers chief supt Harry Breen and supt Bob Buchanan in March 1989. But this précis noted the informant had later recanted his information.

The Smithwick Tribunal’s terms of reference are to inquire into whether members of An Garda or other emloyees of the State colluded with the IRA in the murders of Mr Breen and Mr Buchanan.

At this morning’s tribunal counsel for Mr Hickey, Fionnuala O’Sullivan, sought to have the information in relation to Mr Hickey heard in private session.

Ms O’Sullivan also sought to have her application for a private hearing heard in private. However, she was denied both applications by Judge Peter Smithwick who ruled the tribunal was a public tribunal and wherever possible should strive to have its sessions heard in public.

She said she wanted to make it clear the précis was not graded. “We cannot say if it is hearsay, double hearsay, gossip or innuendo,” she said.

Mr Hickey has denied any collusion.