A retired garda forensic expert has disputed evidence given to the Smithwick Tribunal that the sites where the IRA triggered two huge bombs at Warrenpoint killing 18 soldiers were "obliterated", destroying crucial evidence.
Former Detective Sergeant Patrick Ennis, who spent 30 years in the Ballistics Section, said gardai had followed proper procedures during their search for evidence at the sites in the Republic where the IRA had set off the bombs, killing mostly Parachute Regiment members, across the River Newry at Narrow Water.
Earlier, the Tribunal heard from Dr Alan Hall, who worked as a forensic expert with the RUC.
He arrived at the scene in the Republic one evening in the days after the attack and said he had returned the following day with a team of investigators.
When they did, the areas had been cut down and, he said, a wealth of forensic material he had seen the night before had been destroyed.
He had claimed that former sergeant Owen Corrigan was in charge of the scene.
Mr Corrigan is one of three former gardai, along with Leo Colton and Finbarr Hickey, being investigated by the Tribunal to see if they passed information to the IRA which led to the killing of two senior RUC officers.
All three men deny the allegation.
Giving evidence this afternoon, former sergeant Ennis said he knew Mr Corrigan well and he did not remember meeting him at the scene.
He said he searched the suspected "nests" where the IRA members had lain in wait to trigger the bombs and was categoric that he had not left any material behind in his search.
Mr Ennis said the material witnessed by Dr Hall such as wrappers and drinks containers could have been left by the garda search teams after he had conducted his forensic examination.
"They were definitely not there when I examined the scene. I can only conclude that during the course of the search, the material was left by gardai once they had moved onto another area having found nothing," he said.
Regarding the cutting down of undergrowth before Dr Hall visited the scene, Sgt Ennis said it would have been standard practice to cut down the areas during the search for any additional evidence.
He denied that the scenes had been "obliterated" as had been described by Dr Hall.
"I would say it was searched," he said.
The witness also confirmed that he found ferns in the underclothes of one of the two men suspected of carrying out the bombing who were arrested within minutes of the explosions.
Earlier, one of three former gardai being investigated by the Smithwick Tribunal to establish if they colluded with the IRA wrote a letter of recommendation on behalf of a man who it was believed had "potential associations with subversives".
The tribunal heard today from retired Garda Eamonn Hynes, who worked as a public service vehicle inspector.
He was asked in October 1990 to check out an application by Brian Ruddy from Newtownbalregan, Dundalk, who was seeking a 'trade plate' because he was buying and selling cars.
A trade plate is a portable number plate that motor dealers can transfer between untaxed vehicles to allow them to move these cars.
Mr Hynes said he went to the garage on the address of Mr Ruddy's application form. He found a shed at the back of two cottages.
It was not a garage in his view and he recommended rejection of Mr Ruddy's application.
Leo Colton, then a sergeant in Dundalk, had written a letter supporting Mr Ruddy's application. The witness said it was unusual and unorthodox to write such a letter.
Mr Hynes went on to say that he was also surprised at the letter because Mr Ruddy had a conviction for possession of the illegal animal growth promoter "Angel Dust" and was believed to have "potential associations with subversives".
Mr Colton, along with former sergeants Owen Corrigan and Finbarr Hickey, is being investigated by the Smithwick Tribunal to see if any of them colluded with the IRA in the murder of two senior RUC officers.
Chief Supt Harry Breen and Supt Bob Buchanan died in an IRA ambush just minutes after leaving a meeting in Dundalk Garda Station in March 1989.
Under cross-examination by Eamon Coffey, counsel for Mr Colton, the witness said no-one approached him to try to influence his decision.
The Smithwick Tribunal will resume hearing evidence on 17 April.
