ALLEGATIONS: Gardai were tipped off about the officer’s ‘disturbing’ behaviour by the PSNI
A ROGUE garda officer has resigned from the force after being accused of passing on key information to a senior IRA figure.
Garda bosses were alerted to the female officer’s activities by the North’s PSNI, which was tipped off by Britain’s MI5.
PSNI cops had been using the British intelligence agency to monitor calls and texts to and from the senior IRA man’s phone.
It was found that a rogue garda officer had texted the IRA figure details about two dissident Republican suspects who were being questioned by gardai.
It is understood that the information involved the names of the suspects and how long they were being questioned for by detectives.
Crimes
Garda headquarters were notified of the incident, prompting the resignation of the garda who is the subject of other investigations into separate crimes.
It has since emerged that the garda has close ties to a man arrested in relation to the 1998 Omagh bombing.
A source said: “This garda’s behaviour has caused a huge amount of shock to their colleagues.
“What was happening is highly unusual and is in no way any reflection on the people who were stationed with the gardai.”
Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald last night described the case as “disturbing”.
A Department spokeswoman added: “The minister has asked the interim Garda Commissioner Noirin O’Sullivan for a full report on this matter.”
