A man from Sligo said yesterday that he received payment from a detective sergeant for getting caught drinking on a premises owned by the McBreartys.
Key witness Bernard Conlon (49), said he testified against the McBreartys after being asked by Det Sgt John White to get caught in Frankie's Nightclub in Raphoe.
The tribunal is inquiring into an allegation that Det Sgt White set up the McBreartys by asking Mr Conlon to get caught after hours and be a State witness.
The McBreartys were suspected of being involved in the death of Richie Barron which the tribunal has since held to be a hit-and-run in which the McBreartys were not involved.
Yesterday, Mr Conlon said he did not help Det Sgt White just for the money. He did it because he thought he was helping the gardaí. "It wasn't just the money. I was going along with John White, whatever John White told me to do I done it. and I travelled to every court I was requested to," he said.
The chairman, Mr Justice Morris, asked in what way he thought he was helping the gardaí.
Mr Conlon replied: "Well, trying to get a conviction for John White against McBreartys, that was the only way that they could come up with it to get me in as a civilian to get a conviction against McBreartys for serving drink after hours." Mr Conlon was born in Trim, Co Meath. He was a slow learner and could not read or write. He had various jobs but then was convicted and served sentences for criminal offences.
On July 20th, 1997, he said he went to Frankie's Nightclub and when he went outside he complained to Det Sgt White, who was on duty, that he had not been served a meal.
He met Det Sgt White on another occasion in Raphoe. "He said would I be interested in doing a favour for him," he said.
On Saturday, August 30th, 1997, he was at home when Garda John Nicholson arrived with a message that Det Sgt White wanted him to go to Raphoe that night. He met Det Sgt White in the car park of The Square.
"He took notes on what I was wearing that night. He said he'd pass it on to members and I was to have as much drink on the premises as late as possible. I was wearing a white shirt, red tie, white cords and black shoes," he said.
Peter Charleton SC, for the tribunal, said: "So you were pretty visible." That night he had two pints in front of him after hours. When the gardaí arrived, he had his name taken.
Det Sgt White then visited him at home in Sligo. "He said to me I've done a good job and he gave me some money as far as I recall in a brown envelope from his back pocket. As far as I remember it was £200," he said. He made a statement in Sligo station. Later, he received a summons to appear at Letterkenny Court as a witness.
John Whelan SC, for Det Sgt White, said his client was acquitted in Letterkenny Court. Now Mr Conlon was to repeat the allegations of which Det Sgt White was acquitted, he said.