McBrearty Jnr beat himself up, claim gardaí

GARDAÍ claimed yesterday that Frank McBrearty Jnr beat himself up while being questioned about an alleged assault.

Garda John O’Dowd said McBrearty had beaten his own forehead off the wall and had also repeatedly punched himself on the sides of his head while he was being quizzed about an assault on Edward Moss.

Mr Moss, from Tyrone, claimed he was assaulted by Mr McBrearty Jnr and two bouncers at McBrearty’s nightclub in 1996.

He said he was attacked by the three as he was helping a friend’s partner off the dancefloor. He claimed two of the bouncers - Liam O’Donnell and Martin McCallion - held him while he was repeatedly punched by Mr McBrearty Jnr. Prior to Mr McBrearty Jnr being arrested, McBrearty Snr struck a deal with Mr Moss. He was given stg£15,000 in cash in return for not taking a civil action against the nightclub. But a criminal investigation continued and Mr McBrearty Jnr was arrested on suspicion of assault in early February 1997. His arrest and detention is the subject of controversy.

Mr McBrearty Jnr alleges that while in detention, he was assaulted, verbally abused and questioned about the murder of Richie Barron by Det Sgt John White and Garda John O’Dowd.

Garda O’Dowd said McBrearty had beaten his own forehead off the wall and had also repeatedly punched himself on the sides of his head.

The three men were eventually prosecuted for the assault of Mr Moss. Mr McBrearty Jnr was acquitted while the cases against the other two men were struck out on order of the judge because of discrepancies over the evidence of two of the State witnesses.