Garda fabricated statement, witness tells tribunal

A GARDA fabricated a statement during the follow-up investigation into the death of cattle dealer Richie Barron in Donegal, a witness told the Morris Tribunal yesterday.

Michael McNulty said he had twice told Garda Philip Collins that the information was “not my wording.”

“The statement wasn’t my words, it was more or less fabricated from statements given previously,” said Mr McNulty.

The tribunal heard that Mr McNulty was asked to give a statement as to a sighting of Roisín, the wife of Mark McConnell, close to the time of Mr Barron’s death in Raphoe.

The tribunal was set up to look into the garda investigation after Mr Barron’s death on October 14, 1996, in which members of the extended McBrearty family, including Mark McConnell, in Raphoe, became suspects. The family complain they became the targets of police harassment as a result of the investigation.

Mr McNulty said he was under pressure at work and “signed the statement to get him (Garda Collins) off my back.” He said he had told the garda he was 95% sure he had seen Mrs McConnell walking to work on the road outside her home on Tuesday, but there was a 5% chance it could have been the Monday.

Mr McNulty said that was then translated by the garda to Monday October 14, 1996, the morning after Mr Barron’s death, in the statement.

The tribunal heard he knew it was the Tuesday, as Fruit of the Loom, where Mrs McConnell worked, was not open on a Monday and they had been discussing Mr Barron’s death in his van. The statement said Mrs McConnell looked distressed. Mr McNulty said he had commented to the others in the van the couple must have had a “tiff” as she did not wave at him.

The tribunal also heard evidence from Detective Garda Hugh Maloney, who was part of the Carty investigation, which looked into the local garda station’s handling of the events.

Det Garda Maloney interviewed and spoke to a number of witnesses in the investigation, headed by Assistant Commissioner Kevin Carty.

One witness, Paul Gallagher, said gardaí had spoken to him on October 15 1996 and asked about his activities. “He said they said to get his story right and they wanted him to stitch Frankie up,” Det Maloney said of his interview with Mr Gallagher.