Superiors ‘did not tell’ garda to show woman post-mortem photos

A FORMER detective superintendent yesterday dismissed as outrageous claims he had told a garda to flash post-mortem pictures at a woman during an aggressive interview designed to break her down.

Joseph Shelly, a retired detective superintendent, said Detective Sergeant John White was attempting to pass the blame on to senior officers for his own actions during interviews with two Donegal women in December 1996 in relation to the death of Richie Barron.

“He was there to establish the truth, he was a sergeant in the gardaí, he had experience, he knew what the regulations were, how he should conduct himself, that he didn’t do it, chairman,” Mr Shelly said.