Garda tells tribunal he didn’t trust his bosses
Garda Martin Leonard was giving evidence at the first hearing of witnesses in Dublin of the Morris Tribunal of Inquiry into allegations of garda corruption.
Garda Leonard, who dealt with cases where allegations were made against Donegal-based gardaí, said he believed attempts had been made by an internal garda investigation into allegations of improper activities to find "lower-rank members to take the rap".
Questioned by counsel for the tribunal Peter Charleton about his attitude to the senior hierarchy of the force in Donegal, he replied: "I do not trust them I do not deny that."
Garda Leonard said he felt the setting up of the tribunal would enable members of his organisation to get "fairness and due process".
The garda, asked by tribunal president Mr Justice Frederick Morris whether the rules of the GRA had been drafted because members of the force did not trust management and needed protection, answered after prolonged exchanges: "It gives you a chance of defending yourself, that's all."
Before Garda Leonard began giving evidence, solicitor Niall Sheridan told the tribunal that Sheenagh McMahon, the ex-wife of a garda Noel McMahon, and a central figure in the allegations, had faced pressure to withdraw claims that her husband was involved in staging hoax explosives finds.
The tribunal heard at that time Garda Leonard had approached Mr Sheridan to say Mrs McMahon wanted to withdraw the allegations she had made against her husband.
Mrs McMahon denied making that move.
The tribunal is investigating allegations of garda corruption including terrorist bombmaking, arson, the mystery death of a cattle dealer and a series of arrests, as well as the force's treatment and alleged harassment of the McBrearty family, of Co Donegal.
It is expected the tribunal, which has a long list of potential witnesses 140 of them for the first module of the inquiry alone will sit for at least two years.
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