Intelligence gathering: The Garda's policy on the use of informers needs to be overhauled, the Morris tribunal has recommended.
It expressed concern over the relationship between members of the force to their sources of information, and called for Garda headquarters to play a more active role in the intelligence-gathering process.
The poor handing of intelligence meant there was no way to assess the nature, extent and quality of information from individual informers.
These shortcomings meant there was no way of tracing the history of intelligence provided by Ms Adrienne McGlinchey - whose information supposedly led to recovering of IRA explosives - other than by word of mouth.
The report also said the lack of information on the use of informers meant many rank- and-file gardaí were unaware of how to deal with them.
The tribunal also expressed concern that there was not complete commitment among gardaí to comply with new procedures regarding informers.
It recommended that a number of key issues regarding informers - described as "perhaps the most important aspect of police work touched on during the tribunal" - needed to be addressed:
r Proper training for gardaí regarding the handling of informers and compulsory in-house refresher courses;
r Failure to follow proper procedures in the handling of informers should lead to disciplinary action;
r An independent audit of the implementation of the Garda's new policy on the handling of informers, along with a periodic independent audit of the procedures;
r A compulsory registration system for informations, along with a complete file containing records relating to all dealing with informers by gardaí;
r At least two people should be involved in the handling of an informer at all times;
r A periodic review of the relationship between the informer and the handlers by a superior officer in Garda Headquarters;
r An officer from Garda HQ should maintain close contact with the local supervising officer and handlers on a regular basis.
While the report said there were elements of the Garda's handling of informers which should remain secret, it criticised the lack of any manual for rank-and-file gardaí.
It said a reticence to engage in public discussion regarding this contrasted with the approach of police forces in other common law jurisdictions such as Canada and the UK.
It also said informers should be warned their relationship with gardaí does not give rise to an immunity to commit crime.
It also criticised a "hands-off" policy where Garda officers - who are seen as attempting to gain for themselves the glory of handling an informer - were warned off interfering with the relationship between Ms McGlinchey and her handlers, Supt Noel McMahon and Det Garda Kevin Lennon.
