The Morris tribunal was established by resolutions of the Dáil and Seanad in March 2002, to inquire into alleged unethical and criminal behaviour by some members of the Garda in Co Donegal.
Mr Justice Frederick Morris, a former president of the High Court, was appointed chairman.
A native of Mooncoin, Co Kilkenny, he had a highly-successful practice until his appointment to the High Court in 1990.
He was made the court's president in December 1997.
Educated in Glenstal Abbey, University College Dublin and the King's Inns, he was called to the bar in 1959. In 1970, he became a member of the English bar, Middle Temple.
He became a senior counsel in 1973.
The terms of reference given to the tribunal included complaints that some gardaí in Donegal may have been involved in hoax explosives and bomb-making equipment finds, particularly discoveries made between September 1993 and July 1994, and a review of the management and investigation of those issues.
The tribunal is also investigating the making of extortion and hoax telephone calls, investigations relating to the death of Mr Richie Barron, of Raphoe, on October 14th, 1996, with particular reference to the arrest and treatment of persons in custody in connection with that investigation, and the progress, management and effectiveness of the Garda investigation, with particular reference to the management of informants.
The terms of reference also include allegations of harassment of the McBrearty family, of Raphoe, as well as allegations that two senior members of the Garda may have acted with impropriety.
The effectiveness of the Garda complaints inquiry, vis-a-vis the complaints made by Mr Frank McBrearty snr and his family, between 1997 and 2001, is also under scrutiny.