Morris Tribunal
Gerard Cunningham
A senior Garda officer has outlined to the Morris tribunal how he believed there was an attempt to undermine his authority in Letterkenny during the 1990s.
Supt John J. Fitzgerald said he felt his position was being undermined.
He gave as an example an incident where a detective was found asleep on duty protecting someone whose life was threatened. Chief Supt Denis Fitzpatrick and then Det Insp Kevin Lennon had discovered the detective asleep and had him replaced, but had not informed him.
The superintendent said he found out about the incident a few days later, and "got a gunk" when he was asked about it at an interview for promotion to chief superintendent.
Supt Fitzgerald also complained that Supt Lennon had sent a fax to headquarters in Dublin about an incident where a man who had warrants outstanding was released by a detective after he was abducted from his home in Northern Ireland and brought across the Border to the Republic.
As the superintendent in Buncrana, Supt Lennon should not have been involved in an incident that took place in Letterkenny district, he said.
Eventually, Supt Fitzgerald requested a transfer because he felt his position was undermined.
There was a "cloak of secrecy" between Supt Lennon and Chief Supt Fitzpatrick, who were very close, and the chief superintendent wanted to move Supt Lennon into Letterkenny, he said.
The tribunal is currently examining allegations that Det Noel McMahon and Supt Kevin Lennon prepared explosives for subsequent use in bogus Garda arms finds. The two officers have both denied those claims.