Morris views witness's mass of legal papers

The chairman of the Morris tribunal agreed yesterday to step outside the tribunal room to view the volume of documents served…

The chairman of the Morris tribunal agreed yesterday to step outside the tribunal room to view the volume of documents served on Frank McBrearty, which were in the back of a vehicle.

Mr McBrearty was protesting at the refusal of the State to guarantee his legal costs.

"My family and I have been the victims of a State-sponsored conspiracy," he said.

"We continue to be victimised by the State because of the ongoing refusal of this tribunal to guarantee me payment to our legal team.

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"My jeep is parked outside. It is laden down with legal documents."

He invited Mr Justice Frederick Morris to inspect the contents.

Mr McBrearty said he was appearing under protest and he would refuse to answer any question he considered to infringe his constitutional rights.

Mr Justice Morris went outside to inspect the documents in the back of Mr McBrearty's vehicle.

"I want the truth," Mr McBrearty told the chairman as he showed him the contents of the boot.

"I understand," the chairman replied.

Mr Justice Morris said that he did not have the power to grant costs, as was found by Mr Justice Michael Peart in the High Court.

The Morris tribunal is hearing evidence from Mr Frank McBrearty snr, the Donegal nightclub owner whose family were identified by gardaí as suspects during the investigation into the death of Richie Barron.

Complaints of Garda misconduct and harassment during the investigation led to an internal Garda inquiry and eventually to the tribunal.

Mr McBrearty was accompanied to the tribunal by Fine Gael MEP Jim Higgins.

As opposition justice spokesman in the last Dáil, Mr Higgins championed the cause of the McBrearty family.