Protest threat prompts tribunal to cancel public sittings

THE tribunal probing allegations of garda corruption has cancelled planned public sittings in Donegal after publican Frank McBrearty Jnr threatened to hold protests over the refusal to grant him legal aid.

Mr McBrearty Jnr, whose complaints of garda harassment after he was arrested in relation to the death of Donegal cattle dealer Richie Barron led to the Morris Tribunal, had planned to hold a public protest in Donegal.

“Have I not got the right to hold a peaceful protest?” Mr McBrearty Jnr, who has been representing himself at the tribunal, said. “I was only going to hold a peaceful protest, obviously the Morris tribunal were frightened of something.”