A Donegal publican, wrongly accused of murder, wanted to commit suicide after his alleged abuse at the hands of the Gardai, the Morris Tribunal heard today.
Frank McBrearty Jnr said he was punched, slapped in the face, poked in the ribs and told he was a murderer and should hang himself.
He was accused by gardai at Letterkenny Garda Station of killing cattle dealer, Richie Barron, with an iron bar on October 14, 1996, and was questioned for 12 hours.
"I wanted to lie in bed and die. I felt at that stage, if I was dead, my family would be left alone," he told Mr Justice Morris, who is sitting in Donegal town.
The ex-boxer, from Elmwood Downs, in Letterkenny, was admitted to hospital on at least two occasions following his arrest by gardai.
He was arrested on December 4, 1996, in front of his children, whom he alleges were told that their father was a murderer.
It was later ruled Mr Barron was the victim of a hit-and-run road accident and no-one has ever been charged with his death.
The Morris Tribunal is investigating Garda corruption in Donegal and is currently hearing claims some 12 people, many related to the McBrearty family, were interrogated, intimidated and abused during the death investigation.
He was interrogated by four detectives from the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, which investigates serious crime.
"I complained about McGrath and O'Grady slapping me and kicking me in the shins," he added.
"Melody sat beside me the whole day, poking me in the neck, and Fitzpatrick would get up and slap me in the ear and now I have medical evidence to prove it. "I have had 60 infections over the past 10 years, I have actually perforated an eardrum."
The detectives who quizzed Mr McBrearty Jnr were Detective Garda John Fitzpatrick and Detective Sergeants John Melody, Eamonn O'Grady and Gerard McGrath.
The victim was awarded record compensation of €1.5 million and given an apology by the Government in an out-of-court settlement of a civil claim last month.
He was awarded the damages for malicious prosecution, wrongful arrest, false arrest and breaches of constitutional rights.
The bar manager said: "They told me that I was going down for 20 years, that I was going to be charged with murder and to do them a favour and hang myself in the cells."
He said his experience had left him paranoid, depressed and subject to drinking binges.
He added that he had suffered panic attacks and mood swings. He has four young children and a wife, Patricia.
Mr McBrearty Jnr said he had been picked out by gardai because he was argumentative, but added that he had no criminal record and no history of violence.
The witness said that the fact that he was speaking to his cousin, Mark McConnell, on the night of Richie Barron's death did not implicate him in the death. Mr McConnell was also accused of murder.
No-one has ever been charged with the death and the tribunal has found that all those detained were wrongfully arrested.
PA