Two people separately identified ex-garda as informer

TWO PEOPLE unknown to one another identified former detective sergeant Owen Corrigan of Dundalk Garda station as an IRA informer, the Smithwick Tribunal has been told.

Justin Dillon SC, for the tribunal, yesterday put it to Mr Corrigan that a former businessman and smuggler, John McAnulty, had told the RUC Mr Corrigan was informing the IRA. Mr Dillon also said Peter Keeley, also known as Kevin Fulton, who worked undercover in the IRA for British intelligence, had identified Mr Corrigan as someone assisting the IRA.

Mr Dillon said the allegations made against Mr Corrigan included assertions that he assisted the IRA in passing information which led to the murders of two RUC officers in 1989; that he interfered in an investigation in relation to a bomb-making facility in Omeath, Co Louth; and that he had assisted in the abduction and murder of farmer Tom Oliver.

The two RUC officers who were killed were Chief Supt Harry Breen and Supt Bob Buchanan. They were shot dead in an ambush in south Armagh minutes after leaving a meeting in Dundalk Garda station on March 20th, 1989. The tribunal is inquiring into allegations that a member or members of the Garda colluded with the IRA in killing the two men.

Mr Corrigan said he “couldn’t speak” for Mr McAnulty. But he said Mr Keeley was “a paid agent of the British army” who had shown a “lack of any degree of comradeship or loyalty”. He said Mr Keeley was “a liar” who had been described as an “intelligence nuisance” by the RUC.