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| Kevin Fulton denies being liar at Smithwick Tribunal | Kevin Fulton denies being liar at Smithwick Tribunal |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| A former British agent inside the IRA has denied being a "pathological liar" at the Smithwick Tribunal in Dublin. | A former British agent inside the IRA has denied being a "pathological liar" at the Smithwick Tribunal in Dublin. |
| Kevin Fulton is testifying at the tribunal which is investigating alleged Garda collusion in the IRA murder of two RUC officers in March 1989. | Kevin Fulton is testifying at the tribunal which is investigating alleged Garda collusion in the IRA murder of two RUC officers in March 1989. |
| He claimed a senior Garda officer destroyed vital evidence after the 1979 Narrow Water IRA bomb attack which killed 18 British soldiers. | He claimed a senior Garda officer destroyed vital evidence after the 1979 Narrow Water IRA bomb attack which killed 18 British soldiers. |
| He also claimed some RUC officers set up colleagues for the IRA. | He also claimed some RUC officers set up colleagues for the IRA. |
| The tribunal is investigating the murders of Chief Supt Harry Breen and Supt Bob Buchanan, who were shot dead in south Armagh shortly after leaving a meeting at Dundalk Garda station. | The tribunal is investigating the murders of Chief Supt Harry Breen and Supt Bob Buchanan, who were shot dead in south Armagh shortly after leaving a meeting at Dundalk Garda station. |
| Mr Fulton, whose real name is Peter Keeley, has claimed Dundalk-based Detective Garda Sergeant Owen Corrigan assisted the IRA on several occasions over the years. | Mr Fulton, whose real name is Peter Keeley, has claimed Dundalk-based Detective Garda Sergeant Owen Corrigan assisted the IRA on several occasions over the years. |
| Mr Corrigan denies all such allegations. | Mr Corrigan denies all such allegations. |
| On Thursday, Mr Fulton told the tribunal: "After the Narrow Water bombing it was said that Owen Corrigan helped the IRA that time." | On Thursday, Mr Fulton told the tribunal: "After the Narrow Water bombing it was said that Owen Corrigan helped the IRA that time." |
| Kidnapped and murdered | Kidnapped and murdered |
| The 51-year-old again alleged Mr Corrigan had also been involved in tipping off the IRA off that Mr Breen and Mr Buchanan were in Dundalk, cleaned fingerprints off a 1,000lb bomb found in Omeath and had told the IRA that County Louth farmer Tom Oliver was an informer. | The 51-year-old again alleged Mr Corrigan had also been involved in tipping off the IRA off that Mr Breen and Mr Buchanan were in Dundalk, cleaned fingerprints off a 1,000lb bomb found in Omeath and had told the IRA that County Louth farmer Tom Oliver was an informer. |
| Two months later, in July 1999, Mr Oliver was kidnapped and murdered. | Two months later, in July 1999, Mr Oliver was kidnapped and murdered. |
| Cross-examining Mr Fulton, Mr Corrigan's barrister Jim O'Callaghan said he could prove the witness was a pathological liar. | Cross-examining Mr Fulton, Mr Corrigan's barrister Jim O'Callaghan said he could prove the witness was a pathological liar. |
| He told tribunal his client had no involvement with the Narrow Water and Omeath bomb factory investigation, and that he was on sick leave when Mr Oliver was killed. | He told tribunal his client had no involvement with the Narrow Water and Omeath bomb factory investigation, and that he was on sick leave when Mr Oliver was killed. |
| "Owen Corrigan went on certified sick leave on 4 December 1989, 20 months before Tom Oliver was murdered," Mr O'Callaghan said. | "Owen Corrigan went on certified sick leave on 4 December 1989, 20 months before Tom Oliver was murdered," Mr O'Callaghan said. |
| "After going on sick leave on 4 December 1989 he was totally unavailable to An Garda Siochana in 1990 and 1991 and retired from the forces on 4 February 1992. | "After going on sick leave on 4 December 1989 he was totally unavailable to An Garda Siochana in 1990 and 1991 and retired from the forces on 4 February 1992. |
| 'Walter Mitty character' | 'Walter Mitty character' |
| "He had no access to any Garda information to say who or who was not an informer." | "He had no access to any Garda information to say who or who was not an informer." |
| Mr O'Callaghan told Mr Fulton several former police officers - on both sides of the Irish border - had questioned the agent's credibility, calling him a liar, fantasist and a Walter Mitty character. | Mr O'Callaghan told Mr Fulton several former police officers - on both sides of the Irish border - had questioned the agent's credibility, calling him a liar, fantasist and a Walter Mitty character. |
| "I have done things that I'm not proud of - things my handlers know I have done and I'm party to that," Mr Fulton replied. | "I have done things that I'm not proud of - things my handlers know I have done and I'm party to that," Mr Fulton replied. |
| "Maybe it's because if I go down the road, they're coming with me. | "Maybe it's because if I go down the road, they're coming with me. |
| "Maybe it's good to discredit people who can do them harm." | "Maybe it's good to discredit people who can do them harm." |
| Mr Fulton was asked on Thursday if the IRA would have had enough time to mount an operation if they were told of the RUC officers meeting in Dundalk Garda Station after 14:10 GMT. | |
| "That would have been too short notice" he said, "they would have to have known well in advance." | |
| But he said there would have been enough time to mount the type of IRA ambush that killed the officers if evidence showed that the operation started at 11:30 GMT. |