A senior Dublin detective has said he was "grievously hurt" by media coverage of his conduct during the detention of Donegal publican Frank McBrearty jnr, the man he and three other detectives questioned a decade ago during the investigation into the death of hit-and-run victim Richie Barron.
Det Insp Eamonn O'Grady, who was a sergeant at the time, questioned Mr McBrearty jnr on December 4th, 1996, along with Det Sgt Gerard McGrath.
"I know we have done nothing wrong. Whatever investigation takes place, takes place," he told the tribunal.
Det Insp O'Grady said that after Det Sgt McGrath approached him following press reports about the Barron investigation, they spoke to Det Sgt John Melody and Det Garda John Fitzpatrick, two other detectives brought from Dublin who had questioned Mr McBrearty jnr.
Mr McBrearty jnr has denied he made a statement of admission in Garda custody.
"I was satisfied when John Melody told me that Frank McBrearty signed that statement it was okay. That satisfied me," Det Insp O'Grady said.
"I would spend the rest of my life now suing if I had to listen to every article about the four Dublin guards. I'm well used to hearing that now. It doesn't make me feel good, I have to say. But that is trotted out now so often," he said.
"I'm here now to account for myself. I'm here now to account for what I did. That was the decision I took. It was the best decision, I felt, the best way to deal with this is to allow you people, allow whatever independent investigation is taking place, to take place." Det Insp O'Grady said one press report said he was "suspended on grounds of corruption. And that hurt me seriously, that grievously hurt me."
The detective rejected allegations by Mr McBrearty jnr that he was mistreated during his arrest. "It didn't happen in our interview, I can tell you quite clearly, chairman. It didn't happen," he said. "He wasn't pushed, poked, slapped, physically assaulted in any way through any of the interviews with Det Sgt McGrath and I on that day." Det Insp O'Grady said he had never had a complaint of assault against him in his career.
The inspector said he found Mr McBrearty jnr to be "volatile, explosive, aggressive, abusive. On many occasions he was calm, but easy to fly off the handle" during questioning. He said there were also times when Mr McBrearty jnr was co-operative during questioning.