First Morris report still not in Dáil

THE first report of a tribunal into garda abuses in Co Donegal has still not been debated in the Dáil — 10 months after it was published.

The criticism came as the second report of the tribunal was brought to the Cabinet yesterday with the intention of being published early next week.

The first interim report of the Morris Tribunal was a damning indictment both of individual gardaí in Co Donegal and of garda management within the county and nationally.

"It's extremely disappointing that as the second interim report is being published, that the first interim report still has not been discussed in the Dáil," said Labour party justice spokesperson Joe Costello.

He said he would be looking for the two reports to be debated together.

"I think it's essential.

"We have to learn the lessons. If we are going to spend millions and millions of taxpayers' money on something that seems to be of enormous public importance, which clearly this was because the findings were extraordinary, then we need to take it seriously, put it on the floor of the House and give it a full debate."

Fine Gael justice spokesperson Jim O'Keeffe agreed and said he would be calling for the two reports to be debated together before the end of the current Dáil session.

The Morris Tribunal was set up to examine the circumstances surrounding the garda treatment of the extended McBrearty family following the death of a local man, Richie Barron, in October 1996.

The first report centred on how two officers Det Garda Noel McMahon and Supt Kevin Lennon orchestrated ammunitions and explosive finds to further their careers.

The second report centres on hoax extortion calls made to the homes of Michael and Charlotte Peoples relatives of the McBrearty's by garda informer William Doherty and his garda handler John O'Dowd.

The second module was overshadowed by an ongoing clash between the McBrearty family and the tribunal.

The family is demanding the right to have their own paid legal representation. This has been refused by both the tribunal judge, Justice Frederick Morris (who says he doesn't have the power to grant it) and Justice Minister Michael McDowell (who says it would create a precedent).

The Garda Representative Association has complained that it was excluded from all but one of the nine working groups set up by Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy.