McBrearty swore he would 'get' gardaí who interrogated him

A MAN quizzed over the death of cattle dealer Richie Barron fell to his hands and knees after interrogation and shouted to gardaí that he would get every one of them for what they had done to him.

Frank McBrearty Jnr was one of 12 people arrested after the death of Barron in October 1996 in Raphoe, Co Donegal. He was never charged in connection with Mr Barron's death.

The Morris Tribunal into allegations of misconduct by gardaí heard that two investigators from the

National Bureau of Criminal Investigation - Det Sgt John Melody and Det Gda John Fitzpatrick - had allegedly extracted a confession from Mr McBrearty.

It was also claimed Mr McBrearty was poked and punched as he was being brought into custody and repeatedly kicked while being interviewed and was constantly referred to as a murderer.

Despite his alleged confession, Mr McBrearty was released from custody. As he was leaving, he claimed, the corridor was lined with gardaí and he got down on his hands and knees, swearing he would get them.

Mr McBrearty denies signing the confession and claims either his signature on the form was forged or that he was tricked.

The confession, on two sides of one page, included an apparent admission from Mr McBrearty that he picked up a bit of timber and hit Mr Barron on the head. He also allegedly implicated his first cousin, Mark McConnell.

The first page contained the confession, while overleaf there was just three sentences stating that his father, Frank McBrearty Snr, had not intimidated anyone against giving evidence against the family, as had been alleged. The signature was on the second page - found to probably be Mr McBrearty's - but the first side was not signed.

Mr McBrearty said the first he knew about his alleged confession was in April the following year when his father was taking High Court proceedings against the Garda. The Tribunal also heard allegations, originally made by Garda Tina Fowler, that she saw a Det Inspector writing on a half page. He drew her attention to an apparent signature of Frank McBrearty jnr and said "is that a good likeness". The Tribunal heard that this may not have any bearing on the issue of the alleged confession.