Morris tribunal: A detective sergeant claimed yesterday that the tribunal was just a "pit-stop" to the High Court for a man who alleged he was assaulted during interrogation at Letterkenny Garda station.
Det Sgt John White denied that he punched Seán Crossan in the chest and genitals and cut his ear and eye when he was interrogated on December 11th, 1996.
Mr Crossan was one of 12 people arrested in connection with the death of cattle dealer Richie Barron, whom the tribunal has since found was a hit-and-run victim.
Mr Crossan was an electrician who also worked as a doorman at Frankie's nightclub, owned by the McBrearty family in Raphoe.
Yesterday Det Sgt White was cross-examined by Ken Fogarty SC, for Mr Crossan.
"I did not damage his eye and his ear, Mr Crossan is lying about that," Det Sgt White said.
"Let's get that quite crystal clear. I don't know what he's up to. I do know what he's up to - this is a pit-stop to the High Court for Mr Crossan, that's exactly what it is, a pit-stop to gain some evidence or whatever."
Mr Fogarty said Mr Crossan made a statement of claim in 1997 and he said Det Sgt White on Monday named the McBreartys as possibly being responsible for the injuries.
However, Mr Crossan was brought back to the witness box on Monday to testify that it was Det Sgt White who was responsible.
He said the injuries were a matter of fact the day after the interrogation, December 12th, 1996.
Mr Crossan went to see his solicitor to make the allegation then.
"I do know that he went [ to his solicitor] either with Mr McBrearty snr or at the behest of Mr McBrearty, and I believe he has given that clear evidence himself. Therefore he did not go on his own initiative, he went on the initiative of Mr McBrearty."
He added: "I cannot prove where he went or who he spoke to between 11.15 pm [ the night of the interrogation] and whatever time he went to his solicitor the next day. I don't have the knowledge."
Mr Fogarty said all the allegations, not just of the cuts, fell on his doorstep. He asked whom he was blaming for those.
Det Sgt White said he was blaming Mr Crossan for those.
"He has included a lie in an effort to get money wrongfully from the Irish taxpayer and he is quite willing to go to the High Court and put in an affidavit," he said.