Morris Tribunal: A retired detective sergeant has said he was "used" by a garda superintendent alleged to have planned bogus explosives finds in Donegal a decade ago. Mr Des Walsh was giving evidence to the Morris tribunal.
"In hindsight now, I have no doubt Supt Lennon used me. Especially in the search," he told Tribunal chairman Mr Justice Frederick Morris.
The search of alleged IRA informer Ms Adrienne McGlinchey's flat on March 14th, 1994, after her landlord reported suspicious items in her flat to gardaí, led to the arrest and interrogation of Ms McGlinchey, both of which have been described as a "charade" at the tribunal.
"He asked me to take responsibility for a file as well," Mr Walsh said. The retired sergeant has said he had taken files relating to the search when he retired, and had later destroyed them.
"He shouldn't have asked me," Mr Walsh said. "I agree myself I shouldn't have agreed with it."
The tribunal is investigating claims by Ms McGlinchey that two Donegal gardaí, Det Noel McMahon and Supt Kevin Lennon, prepared bogus explosives finds.
Both gardaí deny these allegations, and Ms McGlinchey denies she was ever an informer or IRA member.
Asked about the charade interrogation, Mr Walsh said: "When people have informants, you just keep clear for it. Sometimes you have to cover up for informants, I've done that myself. I interviewed an informant one time and he gave me valuable information, yet I had to go out and tell my colleagues he told me nothing."
"So you thought that's what was going on there?" asked the chairman.
"That's the way I treated informants," Mr Walsh said.
Tribunal lawyer Mr Paul McDermott said the disappearance of a steel item seen in Ms McGlinchey's flat created difficulties. "One of the conclusions that is open on the evidence is that somebody wanted them to disappear for some reason, or that some member of An Garda Síochána wished them to disappear for some reason."
In cross-examination, Mr Walsh agreed with Supt Lennon, who represents himself, that the then Insp Lennon was only present for about 10 minutes in the interview room on the night of Ms McGlinchey's arrest.
He said it would be usual for detectives not to discuss their dealings with informers with their colleagues.
He also said he had no personal knowledge of any illegal activities by Supt Lennon.