MILITARY Police at Rockhill Barracks in Letterkenny have completed their inquiry into allegations that a member of the Defence Forces there had been stealing diesel from military vehicles.

In Autumn 2005 a Private in the 28th Battalion was reportedly caught stealing diesel and replacing it with illegal, laundered fuel.

The investigation was completed in recent months and it is believed the matter was dealt with internally by the army. It is also believed the soldier at the centre of the investigation received a small fine and is still based at Rockhill. No suspension mechanism exists within the Defence Forces.

It had been alleged the fuel used to refill the vehicles at Rockhill had its origins in an illicit fuel laundering operation run by individuals linked to the Provisional IRA. Much of the laundered fuel operations in Border counties are controlled by paramilitary figures.

A spokesperson for the army could not be contacted yesterday.