Sergeant contradicts senior officer's claim

Morris Tribunal: A detective sergeant has accused an assistant commissioner of not telling the truth in saying the detective…

Morris Tribunal: A detective sergeant has accused an assistant commissioner of not telling the truth in saying the detective was contacted by a Raphoe garda the morning after Raphoe cattle-dealer Richie Barron died and saying the garda was "in a bit of bother".

Det Sgt John White said it was not true that he had told Assistant Garda Commissioner Kevin Carty about a telephone conversation with former Raphoe garda John O'Dowd at a meeting in October 1999.

"I most certainly didn't tell him that," the garda told the Morris Tribunal.

Det Sgt White said his work records would show he was on duty in Glenties on the morning of the day Mr Barron died, October 14th, 1996, and would have been out of reach.

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Mr O'Dowd in evidence last week also denied he made any contact with Sgt White.

The garda commissioner dismissed Mr O'Dowd from the force last year, along with a colleague, Mr Padraig Mulligan. Both men admitted to tribunal investigators in 2003 that they were in a pub in Lifford the night Mr Barron died. Mr Mulligan was on duty at the time.

Det Sgt White said he was "shocked" when he was told Mr Frank McBrearty jnr had made an admission when arrested in December 1996. At the tribunal, Mr McBrearty has denied he made any statement in custody.