The PSNI produced 12 new pieces of intelligence to a public inquiry probing allegations of Garda/IRA collusion on Wednesday, however it was heard in private following an application by police.
Assistant Chief Constable Drew Harris put the evidence before a private session of the Smithwick Tribunal. A PSNI barrister described the intelligence as “new and current”.
The tribunal is probing claims of Garda/IRA collusion, focusing on the murders of Chief Superintendent Harry Breen and Superintendent Bob Buchanan on March 20, 1989.
They were killed in an IRA ambush minutes after leaving a meeting at Dundalk Garda station.
The tribunal has been running since 2005. This new intelligence comes just weeks before the final report has been ordered to be presented to the Irish Parliament on October 31.
In July, the PSNI produced five other pieces of intelligence, some of which claimed that another garda, who is not before the tribunal, had passed information to the IRA.
Yesterday was the first day of public hearings following a break over August.
Counsel for the tribunal Mary Laverty said the PSNI had come forward with intelligence “that had manifested itself quite recently” as a result of investigations.
She said the information was highly sensitive and as such they had no objection if the material was to be heard in private.
Meanwhile victims campaigner William Frazer also gave evidence on Wednesday.
He refuted an allegation heard by the tribunal that he was a member of loyalist paramilitary grouping the Red Hand Commando, and also claimed that material and cars that had been linked to IRA terrorist attacks simply went missing from Dundalk Garda Station over the years.
The tribunal has adjourned until next Tuesday when ACC Harris is expected to continue giving evidence in a private sitting.
Further reports in the News Letter on Thursday.
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