Sergeant changed locks after non-local gardaí found examining papers

A SERGEANT changed the locks on her station in Donegal after she found gardaí from another station pouring over inspection reports, the Morris Tribunal heard yesterday.

Sergeant Sarah Hargadon said she was very annoyed to find that Superintendent Kevin Lennon and Sergeant John White had entered Raphoe Garda station in December 1997 without consulting anybody. “I changed the locks to secure the station, so that I knew then who was coming in and out of the station,” she said.

Sergeant White, who had previously served in the station, was highly respected in the Donegal division for his experience in investigating serious crime in Dublin and his interest in pursuing local criminals in Raphoe.

Sergeant Hargadon said she had clashed with Sergeant White when he asked her to gather evidence of license law breaches at the nightclub in Raphoe run by the McBrearty family. “I got the impression that when I refused to go into Frankie’s nightclub with the video camera, that Sergeant White wasn’t too pleased with this.”

He is currently on sick leave, while Kevin Lennon was sacked last year after the Morris Tribunal found he had lied and orchestrated hoax explosives finds.

Sergeant Hargadon said she had not confronted the two men at the time but passed by without saying anything. Senior counsel Peter Charleton, representing the tribunal, asked if they knew she was annoyed. “I think they got the message,” she said.

The tribunal is currently investigating the false allegations made by a Sligo man Bernard Conlon who claimed he was intimidated and threatened by members of the McBrearty family

Sergeant Hargadon told the tribunal Mr Conlon had a very close relationship with Sergeant White and Superintendent Lennon.

He was brought into the canteen of Letterkenny Garda Station on some occasions, which was very unusual for a civilian.

“He was regarded as an important witness, from the way he was being treated by Superintendent Lennon and Sgt White,” said Sergeant Hargadon. Mr Conlon had agreed to give evidence against the McBreartys when they were being prosecuted for breaches of the licensing laws.

However, senior counsel John Whelan, representing Sergeant White, said Mr Conlon had been brought into the station canteen because he had requested garda protection from the McBrearty family at a court appearance.

“I didn’t feel he was afraid of the McBreartys. I didn’t feel it was protection when he arrived in the station,” replied Sergeant Hargadon.