A Donegal man who was extradited from Scotland appeared before Buncrana District Court yesterday charged with offences relating to the Garda investigation into the death of Raphoe cattle dealer Mr Richie Barron.
Mr William Doherty (31), Doorible, Manorcunningham, faces seven charges connected with the Barron investigation, including one of attempting to pervert the course of justice and four of making menacing and extortionate phone calls to Raphoe publican Mr Frank McBrearty snr.
It is alleged the defendant attempted to extort £10,000 from Mr McBrearty snr to suppress evidence he claimed to have that would allegedly implicate Mr Frank McBrearty jnr and Mr Mark McConnell in the death of Mr Barron. The phone calls to Mr McBrearty snr were allegedly made on November 5th, 1996, and November 6th, 1996.
Mr Doherty, who the court heard is married with one child, was arrested by gardaí when he returned from Scotland following the death of his mother in Donegal last Saturday.
The accused had been due to appear in court in September 2001 to face two charges of making false statements and wasting Garda time in the Barron investigation. However, he failed to show up and had left the jurisdiction to live in Scotland.
Supt Hugh Coll, of the Carty inquiry team, told Judge John O'Donnell yesterday that investigators had to carry out "exhaustive inquiries" to find the defendant's whereabouts. He said Mr Doherty had been fighting his extradition to Ireland until the death of his mother, when he consented to his own extradition. His appeal of extradition proceedings had been due to be heard in Scotland in January 2004. Objecting to bail yesterday, Supt Coll said: "I feel he would not return for trial."
Applying for bail, defence solicitor Mr Pasty Gallagher said his client had come back from Scotland by arrangement and was there to meet the charges against him. "He has pleaded not guilty to the charges and will continue to do so. He has no intention of leaving the jurisdiction until this matter is dealt with," he said.
Mr Gallagher told Judge O'Donnell his client could only offer his own bond, along with an independent surety from his family. He said while his client had no assets in this jurisdiction, his immediate family, who are land and property owners in Donegal, did.
Judge O'Donnell described the charges against the accused as "very serious" and refused bail. At this point, Mr McBrearty snr interjected saying he wanted to object to the defendant getting bail "of any description".
The judge told Mr McBrearty he had "no right of audience" in the matter. Mr McBrearty said: "My family has suffered for seven years." He was a "citizen of the State" and should be granted audience, he said. The defendant, meanwhile, indicated that he too wished to speak, but after taking advice from his solicitor, he declined.
Mr Doherty also faces a charge of perjury as well as a number of existing charges relating to cheque fraud. He was remanded in custody to appear at Buncrana District Court on Monday.
