Smuggling exaggerated, tribunal told

A briefing on the alleged smuggling operations of Thomas ‘Slab’ Murphy, given to then secretary of state for Northern Ireland Tom King by a colonel in the British army, was significantly exaggerated, the Smithwick tribunal has heard.

The tribunal was told the briefing led to a decision at the highest security levels to crack down on the alleged smuggling, and a requirement that RUC chief superintendent Harry Breen set up a face-to-face meeting with gardaí in Dundalk.

Chief Supt Breen and Supt Bob Buchannan were killed in an IRA ambush in March 1989 while returning from a meeting in Dundalk Garda station, within weeks of the decision to crack down on the alleged smuggling operation.

This morning the tribunal heard Mr Breen had expressed disappointment at the Colonel’s briefing of Mr King, remarking to a colleague that the “activity” in south Armagh had been exaggerated by the colonel.

Giving evidence from behind a screen Mr Breen’s then deputy, who was identified only as Witness 39, said Mr Breen had been “down” about the matter, particularly as he had not been told in advance that the colonel would be making the briefing.

Witness 39 also said Chief Supt Breen was “not particularly happy” about travelling south of the Border.

The tribunal heard the briefing given to Mr King had taken place on March 6th, 1989 over a dinner in Stormont Castle which was also attended by the then chief constable Jack Hermon.

Witness 39 said in the immediate aftermath of the dinner “a direction had come down from headquarters” requiring Supt Breen set up face to face meetings with the Garda, to secure cooperation in investigating Mr Murphy.