Mr Justice Frederick Morris will rule next Monday on applications heard at the High Court today for legal representation at the Morris Tribunal of Inquiry.
The tribunal, which was established to investigate alleged Garda misconduct in Co Donegal, is expected to commence in the autumn and is predicted to continue for two years.
This afternoon Mr Justice Morris heard a series of applications from thirteen solicitors seeking legal representation for 85 people at the inquiry.
The largest group seeking representation included 43 members and employees of the McBrearty family, who claimed they were harassed and intimidated by certain members of the Garda Siochana in the Donegal division following the death of Raphoe man, Mr Richie Barron in October 1996.
A number of personal applications were also made to Mr Justice Morris and seven people told of their individual experiences of Garda harassment.
One man told the court: "I’m here because of the harassment of my family by certain members of the gardaí."
He said that between 1996 and 1998 every member of his family was brought before every district court in the area, and to some of the circuit courts. When his family complained to the authorities, he said, "the harassment got worse". He told the court the same Garda accused by the McBrearty family of harassment, was responsible for what had happened to his own family.
Another man told the court he had owned and managed a nightclub in Donegal, but was prevented from fair competition by the gardaí, who he said "singled him out for special attention". He told Mr Justice Morris he had been bullied and harassed by the gardaí and said: "I feel that I have a story to tell of misconduct in an area in Donegal".
Mr Justice Morris did not grant legal representation to the Garda Commissioner, Mr Pat Byrne, but said he could renew his application at a later date.
Chief Supt Denis Fitzpatrick, who was in charge of the Donegal division at the time, did not apply today for legal representation today. However, the Garda Complaints Board did.