Garda put gun in suspect's mouth, tribunal hears

Morris tribunal: An electrician arrested in connection with the death of cattle-dealer Richie Barron in Donegal alleged yesterday…

Morris tribunal: An electrician arrested in connection with the death of cattle-dealer Richie Barron in Donegal alleged yesterday that one of his Garda interviewers put a gun in his mouth at Letterkenny Garda station in December 1996.

Damien McDaid (41), from Newtowncunningham, Co Donegal, said the "heavy set" balding man was attempting to get him to sign a statement which he could not understand because he could not read and write well.

When asked to give a "flavour" of what this statement contained, he said he believed it stated that he had seen Frank McBrearty jnr "hitting your man [ Mr Barron] over the head with an iron". Gardaí also insisted that he had hidden an iron bar for Mr McBrearty jnr, Mr McDaid added. He did not know the name of his interviewer.

The tribunal has established that Mr Barron was the victim of a hit-and-run.

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Mr McDaid said the man went out of the interview room before returning alone and saying, "Right, on your knees McDaid". When Mr McDaid looked up a handgun was put in his mouth, and he knew he was in "serious bother". The same man also spat in his breakfast and jumped on his feet, Mr McDaid said.

Responding to the suggestion from senior counsel for the tribunal, Paul McDermott SC, that the incident with the gun might be considered "extraordinary" by some people, Mr McDaid agreed it was indeed "very serious". "I was sure I was dead," he said. Mr McDaid said he was living with the memory of the events ever since.

He also denied ever telling gardaí he had seen two IRA men arguing with staff members in the car park of the Parting Glass pub in Raphoe on the night Mr Barron died in October 1996.

He said he had no memory of being in Raphoe with his van that night and he was "well oiled" at the time.

In her earlier evidence to the tribunal, Mr McDaid's wife Geraldine said he was pale, scared and "mumbling away" when she visited him in Letterkenny Garda station at the time of his arrest.

Mrs McDaid, who is separated from her husband, said he arrived back home later that evening carrying his boots.

When she asked him why he was doing this, he replied that his "f***in feet" were sore and had been "tramped".

When asked by tribunal chairman Mr Justice Frederick Morris whether she had seen his feet, she said he had removed his socks. His toes appeared swollen and "reddish". When asked whether she was sure about this, she said she was, as far as she could remember.

However, she said she could not recall Mr McDaid telling her anything about what happened during his time at the station.

Clearly emotional, she said she "had a marriage" before Mr McDaid's arrest, but did not have one now. Everybody in Newtowncunningham seemed to know about the arrest, with one result being that work started to dry up for her husband.

The tribunal continues today.

Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Department of Justice yesterday said no decision has yet been made on the publication of three reports from the tribunal,delivered to Minister for Justice Michael McDowell on Wednesday.

He said that under the regulations, the Minister must either present the reports to the Oireachtas within 14 days or apply to the High Court for directions. This would occur if he feels their publication may prejudice a trial.