Morris tribunal: A detective sergeant yesterday denied he punched a man in the chest and private parts, cut his eye and ear and spat in his mouth while interrogating him in Letterkenny Garda station.
Det Sgt John White denied allegations made by Seán Crossan from Raphoe regarding an interview on December 11th, 1996. He 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 worked as a doorman at Frankie's nightclub, owned by the McBreartys .
Yesterday Det Sgt White said he did not punch Mr Crossan in the genitals.
Asked if he spat in Mr Crossan's mouth, Det Sgt White said: "It would be a very dirty thing to do and wouldn't be something I'd do to a human being."
Mr Crossan also alleged that Det Sgt White threatened to take his six children away and would ring social welfare.
Det Sgt White said: "I didn't threaten Seán Crossan I'd take his children away. I had no power to do so and anybody even with limited intelligence would know that I can't take their children away."
He said he did not cut Mr Crossan's eye or ear.
Mr Crossan had said he went to a solicitor the next day and had marks on his face photographed.
"He hadn't the marks when he left the Garda station and he hadn't them next morning," Det Sgt White said.
He then alleged that somebody else could have marked Mr Crossan after he left the Garda station and made a reference that it would possibly have been the McBreartys.
Peter Charleton SC, for the tribunal, said this was a serious allegation and recalled Mr Crossan to the witness box.
Mr Crossan said he did not go to the McBreartys after he left the station. His cuts were nothing to do with anybody else, he said.