Smithwick Tribunal sessions near end

THE SMITHWICK Tribunal is expected to conclude its public sessions by the end of the month and even possibly by the end of next week, it was revealed yesterday.

The tribunal, which is inquiring into suggestions of collusion between members of the Garda and the IRA in the murders of two RUC officers, was set up in 2005 and published an opening statement in 2006.

Tribunal chairman Judge Peter Smithwick said yesterday that Owen Corrigan, a former detective sergeant in Dundalk, Co Louth, was “effectively our last witness”.

Judge Smithwick was speaking after Dr Eva Fasie, Fair Street, Drogheda, said Mr Corrigan was suffering from a number of conditions, among them type two diabetes, and had recently developed problems with breathing and sleeping. Dr Fasie recommended that Mr Corrigan give evidence for no more than two hours a day with a break of a minimum of 24 hours between sessions.

Judge Smithwick asked counsel for the tribunal, Darragh Hayes, whether lawyers present would consider sitting on Saturday mornings in a bid to conclude Mr Corrigan’s evidence.

He said he was “anxious” to move on to the next stage of the inquiry which involves him writing his report by the revised deadline of October 31st.