Two retired Cork gardaí will give evidence to corroborate claims that bugging of prisoners' conversations in Garda custody was a widespread practice within the force, the Morris tribunal heard.
Former detective John White has alleged the bugging of Garda stations occurred nationwide and not just in Donegal during the investigation into the death of cattle dealer Richie Barron.
"There are two retired gardaí from Cork, a retired sergeant and garda, who will give evidence that they sat in a van, outside a Garda station in 1992, saw the equipment being used, and listened to an interview taking place in an interview room in the station, and that that van was driven and the equipment used by members of the national surveillance unit," Mr White said.
Retired detective Joseph Shelly told Mr White he was not aware of the incident or the circumstances. Mr Shelly said he had spoken to the Letterkenny district officer, Supt John Fitzgerald, about getting assistance from Garda technical support services in conducting surveillance on Frank McBrearty snr after his planned release from Garda custody in December 1996.
However, Mr Shelly said there was no plan to place listening devices in rooms in the Garda station and listen to conversations between prisoners and visitors.
Mr Fitzgerald has told the tribunal he delegated the investigation into alleged intimidation of witnesses to Mr Shelly, and did not know that technical support had been requested from Garda headquarters until he met Sgt Joseph Costello, an audio-video expert based at Garda headquarters, at a pre-arrest conference.
Mr White said he could not report the bugging at the time, because if he did, "the senior Garda authority would turn on me like a team of dogs". Mr Shelly said the Garda was "tougher on their own" when they transgress than any other organisation.