Two Donegal gardaí have supported the claim of a fellow officer that he had a loaded pistol pointed in his face by a former senior colleague in the force, the Morris tribunal heard yesterday.
Garda Seamus Gordon alleged that Det Garda Noel McMahon threatened him in this fashion in the public office of Buncrana Garda station in 1993-1994.
In a statement to the Carty inquiry into Garda misconduct in Co Donegal, Garda Gordon said Det Garda McMahon and Supt Kevin Lennon, formerly stationed at Letterkenny, joined him at the station, where he had been talking to some peers.
"Noel McMahon reacted to something that I said to him," said Garda Gordon.
"He was standing beside the table at this point and he leaned forwards towards me and pointed his official Smith and Wesson revolver at my face.
"I knew from the movement of his hand that he cocked the hammer of the firearm after he pointed the gun at me. He then released the hammer and cocked it again, and again he released it by placing gentle pressure on the trigger while holding the hammer with his thumb. I cannot remember how many more times he did this."
Garda Gordon said moments later someone, whom he believed to be Supt Lennon, said "put the gun away". Det Garda McMahon did so, and Garda Gordon said he later discovered the gun had been loaded and this caused him greater anxiety over the following weeks and months.
Det Garda Michael Galvin and Garda Tom McDonagh said in separate statements that they had witnessed the incident. The former said he recalled Supt Lennon telling Det Garda McMahon to "stop messing around", while the latter remarked that the incident occurred "for no reason that I can remember".
Det Garda McMahon, who has been suspended from the force, was interviewed by the Carty inquiry in March 2000 and denied producing his firearm to Garda Gordon. Supt Lennon, when interviewed in May 2000, was reported to have said that of all of the accusations levelled against him this one seemed to have "a bit of substance".
But, he was reported to have said, "as there was a professional person making the allegations that he should have made notes and that the failure, in that regard, was more serious than the alleged event."
The allegation was alluded to by counsel for the tribunal Mr Peter Charleton SC in his preliminary opening statement. A series of further claims against Det Garda McMahon and Supt Lennon, who likewise has been suspended from the Garda, were also detailed.
Among the claims examined related to "hoax" IRA arms finds, which the tribunal said may have been designed to gain kudos for the gardaí.
One such incident occurred in 1994 at Covehill, Co Donegal, when explosives were apparently discovered in a shed. Another "seizure" took place in July that year at Ardeelan, Rossnowlagh.
A Garda "informant" at the time, Ms Adrienne McGlinchey, had since claimed she was involved in planting such material for Det Garda McMahon and Supt Lennon, both of whom deny the allegations.
Referring to the finds, the Carty inquiry said "no investigation" was carried out into them. "No samples were forwarded to the Forensic Science Laboratory for analysis. The bags were not retained for fingerprint or forensic examination." The inquiry established, moreover, that the contents of these finds were destroyed.
Another incident referred to by Mr Charleton was the discovery in March 1994 of suspected explosives material, including bags of fertilizer, in a flat occupied by Ms McGlinchey. She was arrested but subsequently claimed the interrogation that followed, after Supt Lennon came to meet her, was "a charade".
Mr Charleton noted: "She claims to have been brought reading material and sweets. She claims never to have been questioned about the fertilizer." Supt Lennon said he did not recall any involvement in the matter.
The tribunal heard several statements from gardaí contradicting the view that Ms McGlinchey was an IRA informant. In a statement to the Carty inquiry, Det Sgt Hugh Smith of Letterkenny Garda station said: "During all our dealings with Ms McGlinchey she never produced any tangible evidence other than some documents after an incident had happened."
Sgt Daniel Kelly of Burnfoot Garda station said: "From my observations of her actions and behaviour over a period I formed the opinion that her antics were applied by her to distract the gardaí and seek Garda attention."
He further described her as "a Walter Mitty-type person. She always liked to draw attention to herself." Det Garda Noel Jones said he had grave doubts about Ms McGlinchey, along with a former friend of hers, Ms Yvonne Devine, with whom she used to live.
He said it was a regular occurrence to see them both "dashing across the roadway, hiding in cars, in hedges, laneways, etc."
Mr Tom Shreenan, a retired detective sergeant, said he had been surprised that Det Sgt McMahon regarded Ms McGlinchey as a reliable informant.
He said he had received instructions from Supt John P. O'Connor on at least two occasions "to lay off" Ms McGlinchey and Ms Devine "as they were supplying useful information regarding subversive activities to Noel McMahon. I could not understand this as it did not seem to tally with my information or with normal subversive activity on the ground," said Mr Shreenan.
The tribunal heard Ms McGinchey was arrested on several occasions but released without charge.
