Why gardaí framed the McBreartys

A COMPLAINT by the McBrearty family against a detective sergeant who was accused of borrowing money from publicans in Donegal prompted the campaign of intimidation and false accusations which ultimately led to the Morris Tribunal.

A number of gardaí in north Donegal were “waiting in the long grass” for payback over what happened to Sergeant Danny McHugh, said Frank McBrearty Senior, who detailed his suspicions in an affidavit to the High Court which has been obtained by the Irish Examiner.

Mr McBrearty’s son Frank and Mark McConnell were the victims of a conspiracy by a number of gardaí to frame them for what was thought to be the murder of Richie Barron in October 1996. The pair was arrested along with family and friends in early December.