18 July 2012
Last updated at 13:59 GMT
Ch Supt Harry Breen and Supt Bob Buchanan were killed in 1989
They were killed in an IRA ambush as they returned to Northern Ireland after a meeting at Dundalk garda station in March 1989.
The retired officer admitted that after their deaths a "reliable source" told him of a particular day when the men had been followed by IRA members, missing them only by five minutes and that the "leader of PIRA in South Armagh" walked behind them into Dundalk garda station.
The intelligence was described as "very specific" and outlined how the RUC officers had been followed only four or five weeks before the IRA ambush on 22 March.
'Potential lead' Under cross-examination by Mark Robinson, for the PSNI, Mr Corrigan admitted that he did not pass this intelligence on or share it with anyone else.
"Why have you waited until 2012 to finally bring this information to light?" asked Mr Robinson.
"I can't say, there was no particular reason why I did," said Mr Corrigan.
When asked if such intelligence could have been a potential lead in the murder investigation of the RUC officers, the retired officer said "perhaps it was".
Under the terms of the Smithwick tribunal collusion is also considered in terms of an omission or failure to act.
The legal representative of the PSNI later read out part of the oath each member of the Garda Síochána declares when they are appointed which includes carrying out duties 'with fairness, integrity, regard for human rights, diligence and impartiality, upholding the Constitution and the laws and according equal respect to all people'.
"You opted out and betrayed the oath" said Mr Robinson, " You betrayed your colleagues and you betrayed Harry Breen and Bob Buchanan for failing to pass on this information".
"I did not and I take grave exception to that," said Mr Corrigan.
The retired officer denies all allegations of collusion against him.
Smithwick tribunal told garda officer 'betrayed RUC men'
Ch Supt Harry Breen and Supt Bob Buchanan were killed in 1989
A former garda detective
sergeant has been accused of betraying two RUC officers by failing to
pass on intelligence in the months after their murders by the IRA.
Owen Corrigan is a key witness at the Smithwick tribunal
which is investigating allegations of Garda collusion in the murders of
Harry Breen and Bob Buchanan. They were killed in an IRA ambush as they returned to Northern Ireland after a meeting at Dundalk garda station in March 1989.
The retired officer admitted that after their deaths a "reliable source" told him of a particular day when the men had been followed by IRA members, missing them only by five minutes and that the "leader of PIRA in South Armagh" walked behind them into Dundalk garda station.
The intelligence was described as "very specific" and outlined how the RUC officers had been followed only four or five weeks before the IRA ambush on 22 March.
'Potential lead' Under cross-examination by Mark Robinson, for the PSNI, Mr Corrigan admitted that he did not pass this intelligence on or share it with anyone else.
"Why have you waited until 2012 to finally bring this information to light?" asked Mr Robinson.
"I can't say, there was no particular reason why I did," said Mr Corrigan.
When asked if such intelligence could have been a potential lead in the murder investigation of the RUC officers, the retired officer said "perhaps it was".
Under the terms of the Smithwick tribunal collusion is also considered in terms of an omission or failure to act.
The legal representative of the PSNI later read out part of the oath each member of the Garda Síochána declares when they are appointed which includes carrying out duties 'with fairness, integrity, regard for human rights, diligence and impartiality, upholding the Constitution and the laws and according equal respect to all people'.
"You opted out and betrayed the oath" said Mr Robinson, " You betrayed your colleagues and you betrayed Harry Breen and Bob Buchanan for failing to pass on this information".
"I did not and I take grave exception to that," said Mr Corrigan.
The retired officer denies all allegations of collusion against him.
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