16 Sep Irish Independent: Call for independent probe after detective claims intelligence on Regency attack was not disclosed at trial
https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/crime/call-for-independent-probe-after-detective-claims-intelligence-on-regency-attack-was-not-disclosed-at-trial/a/161189952.html
Kevin Winters of KRW Law in Belfast told the Sunday Independent that there are “major questions to be answered” about why the now-suspended detective’s information was not followed up on.
The solicitor has written to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly and the garda watchdog Fiosrú about the case.
He has also formally requested that the garda watchdog carry out a full, independent investigation into how “information provided” by the detective “was treated and allegedly suppressed”.
Mr Winters said that after the detective heard about the shooting, he then informed his garda line manager by email about the meeting he had just had with Eddie Hutch Sr.
The solicitor has also claimed that the detective later received a call from a senior officer investigating Det Supt Fox’s suicide, and it was said that this detective’s email was found in Det Supt Fox’s personal belongings.
In correspondence, Mr Winters wrote: “Following the death of Detective Superintendent Colm Fox, a copy of this email was found in his personal files. The incident room in Ballymun who were involved in the Regency investigation claim they were not aware of this information provided.
“Our client provided extremely sensitive information against the Hutch crime organisation in the immediate aftermath of the Regency Hotel shooting. Such significant objective contribution would appear to be absent from the investigation file submitted to the DPP.”
It emerged at the inquest into Det Supt Fox’s death that he believed he had made a “major error” while leading the Regency shooting probe.
Mr Winters has contacted the garda watchdog, asking if it has received his client’s email among the evidence handed over by garda investigators.
Two letters have also been sent to the DPP by his legal team regarding the investigation into the Regency shooting.
Mr Winters has also written to the Garda Commissioner, and has called upon him to clarify whether he is aware that the detective passed on “sensitive information” about the Regency murder probe and whether it was acted upon.
Mr Winters added: “The absence of any confirmation that our client’s information was ever picked up is central to our complaint to Fiosrú and the Garda Commissioner.”