Morris TribunalThe Morris tribunal has "made life difficult" for gardaí in Donegal, a senior Garda officer has said.
Supt Vincent O'Brien, superintendent in Buncrana since October last year, said there were "a lot of pressures on gardaí in Donegal" because of the tribunal.
"I'm not saying the tribunal had caused it, but people's perception would be different as a result of the tribunal being set up."
The tribunal is examining allegations by Ms Adrienne McGlinchey that, together with suspended gardaí Det Noel McMahon and Supt Kevin Lennon, she mixed explosives that were later used in bogus Garda finds of terrorist arms. Both men have denied those claims, and Ms McGlinchey denies she was an informer.
Det Insp Edwin Hancock of the Garda Technical Bureau gave evidence of three finned metal tubes in the possession of the tribunal. These could resemble a propulsion unit for a mortar bomb to the inexperienced observer, he said.
"A lot of members [of the Garda] would consider it to be part of a mortar bomb. Many have never come across explosive devices."
However, the devices had no practical function as part of a mortar device.
The inspector was also asked if the IRA would remove black powder from rifle cartridges for use in launching mortars.
"The .22 do not contain black powder, they contain nitrocellulose powder," he said.
"They have never used the propellant powder from .22 and shotgun cartridges of any type to launch mortar bombs. They are quite proficient in producing their own powder. I have encountered it in devices used by loyalist organisations, but not by the IRA."