Gardaí probing Barron death appeal for mystery caller to make contact

A MYSTERY caller who rang the Garda confidential line with information about the death of Richie Barron is being urged to make contact again.

The man rang the national number on June 2 last, the day after the publication of the latest report of the Morris Tribunal which declared the garda investigation into the Raphoe cattle-dealer’s death “an extraordinary shambles.”

Gardaí regard the information the man offered as very important, but they say they need him to call back to help them follow up lines of inquiry his call initiated.

The nature of the confidential line means gardaí manning the phones do not expect callers to leave contact details and they say they do not trace call origins.

Since the man made contact, detectives have evaluated the information he provided and concluded he was genuinely trying to help the investigation and could be of further assistance.

A garda press officer said: “The gardaí firmly believe this was a genuine caller and that the information that he has is very valuable. He may not see it that way. He may be having doubts, but we would encourage him to call back and assure him that the same guarantee of confidentiality applies.”

The death of Richie Barron has remained unsolved for nine years after a number of gardaí in Donegal botched the early probe and set about framing local men Frank McBrearty Junior and his cousin, Mark McConnell, for his “murder.” His death has since been reclassified as a hit and run and Mr McBrearty and Mr McConnell have been completely exonerated of any involvement.

Progress on the investigation has been seriously hampered by the amount of time elapsed since Mr Barron died and fresh leads have proven hard to come by in the atmosphere of confusion and distrust created locally by what Justice Morris termed the “willful blunders, gross negligence and laziness” of some gardaí.

Justice Morris’s second report, published on June 1, identified four other possible suspects for involvement in Mr Barron’s death but its terms of reference do not allow it to inquire further into who was responsible.

The widow and family of Mr Barron last week served a writ on the Minister for Justice, Garda Commissioner and Attorney General, claiming compensation for suffering as a result of the State’s failure to ensure a proper investigation into his death.

The Garda confidential line is 1-800-666-111 and is manned 24 hours a day.