A retired senior garda has told the Smithwick Tribunal that he was concerned about the frequent visits to Dundalk of an RUC Superintendent who died in an IRA ambush.
RUC Chief Superintendent Harry Breen and Superintendent Bob Buchanan were killed in the IRA ambush on 20 March 1989 shortly after they left a meeting in Dundalk Garda Station.
The Smithwick Tribunal is investigating claims that a garda may have tipped off the IRA of the meeting, allowing them time to set up the ambush in which the two officers were murdered.
Giving evidence to the tribunal today, retired Supt Pat Tierney said he met Supt Buchanan 12 times during the months before the murder.
On the day of the ambush, he said he met the Superintendent briefly and he was in very good form as he was being transferred.
Later in the afternoon, he got a call from a colleague in the RUC asking if the two men had left as there was an incident near Meigh. He said they had gone. Shortly afterwards he heard there was an ambush and went out to the scene.
Former Supt Tierney admitted that he had been 'a bit apprehensive' about the visits of Supt Buchanan 'because he was coming across so often in the same car'.
He also dismissed a report contained in British intelligence documents that an unnamed civilian was responsible for arranging meetings between the RUC and the gardaí and that could be where a leak came from.
That view was backed up by another retired garda who worked in Dundalk at the time.
George Flynn said he had received a call from Supt Buchanan on the morning of 20 March asking for Supt Tierney or the Chief Superintendent.
They were not available but he passed on the message.
He also told the Tribunal that afternoon he saw Supt Buchanan's car parked in the front car park of the garda station where it was visible to the public.
He also revealed that the Superintendent often parked his car down the street and walked up to the garda station for meetings.
