The week at the Morris tribunal: Fireworks and bangers figure largely in this module, which centres on a claim that a garda or gardaí made an explosive device and planted it on a television mast in Ardara, Co Donegal.
The most unusual aspect is that the allegation does not generate from any identified source.
In 1995 local people began protesting against the eight-foot mast at the then Telecom Éireann site on the mountainside in south-west Donegal when Cable Management Ltd acquired the licence to transmit.
Local farmer Tom Gildea supported the Ardara campaign and was elected as an Independent TD in 1997.
Although the protests were peaceful, on November 7th 1996 an arson attack on a container of equipment at the site caused £50,000 worth of damage.
Supt Denis Cullinane called in then sergeant John White, now detective sergeant, to investigate the serious crime.
On November 19th 1996 an explosive device was found on a cable at the site. It was examined by the Army and then taken to Glenties Garda station. Ballistics experts testified that it was little more than a large firework, made up of banger-type firecrackers.
It is alleged that the device was made in the back yard of a Co Donegal Garda station and planted on the mast for the purpose of arresting a number of local people. These were Hugh Diver, the late Anthony Diver and Bernard Shovlin, their brother-in-law, who had land adjacent to the mast.
This allegation is not made by any specific witness. Gildea revealed that the confidential source of the allegation was Frank Connolly. The journalist, who has made a written statement to the tribunal, has not been called to the witness-box.
Gildea said there were "a multiplicity of rumours" at the time. Retired garda Patrick O'Donnell said that when the device was found the rumour in Glenties station that night was that it was a set-up and that the powder from the device was taken from fireworks seized the previous year. At Glenties harvest fair in September 1995, 150 fireworks were seized. These were stored in a room at the back of the Garda station until December 1997.
White has denied an allegation made by two local gardaí that, after the device was found and taken back to Glenties, he took a spoonful of powder from it and tested it by trying to light it at the back of the station.
Warrants were issued under the Offences Against the State Act allowing greater investigative powers. The three men were arrested on November 20th 1996. Anthony Diver and Bernard Shovlin were released the same day and Hugh Diver the following day, all without charge.
On the 21st, White went to Shovlin's house. Anthony Diver was there and alleged White had planted the device to get an arrest and had set them up. White said he certainly did not.
This week, Hugh Diver refused to give evidence at the tribunal. He has been summoned to appear on November 7th, when the tribunal resumes.