Gardaí deny intimidating and threatening ‘model prisoner’

GARDAÍ yesterday denied claims they threatened and intimidated a woman accused of covering up for a murder suspect in Donegal.

The Morris Tribunal heard Edel Quinn, who officers suspected was hiding information in relation to the death of cattle dealer Richie Barron, was a model prisoner. Detective Sergeant Desmond Sheridan told the hearing Ms Quinn fully co-operated and interviews were carried out with respect and courtesy towards her at all times.

She was interviewed four times during her 12-hour detention on December 4, 1996. Gardaí believed she was covering up for her brother-in-law Mark McConnell, who was wrongly suspected of killing Mr Barron on October 14. It was later ruled he had been the victim of a hit-and-run.

Det Sgt Sheridan said: “She was a model prisoner. We had no difficulty whatsoever with her. She was very truthful with the answers she gave me.”

He was asked why, if she co-operated, he supported calls to extend Ms Quinn’s detention by six hours.

“We were told in the briefing she knew possibly more than she said in her statement. I was trying to find out if she knew more.”

During her arrest, Ms Quinn claims she was classed as being as bad as the motorbike driver in the Veronica Guerin murder; was told she had been followed and photographed by officers for six weeks prior to her arrest, and threatened with a 14-year jail sentence for being an accessory after the fact of murder.

She says she was asked if she wanted to see Mr Barron’s autopsy pictures, was warned she would be blacklisted, called a liar, alleged her sister had confessed they both knew the truth, questioned if she had gone to confession, and was made swear the truth on what she believed was the Bible.

Det Sgt Sheridan said there was nothing controversial about the interviews, which were carried out with Garda Pauline Golden. Both officers yesterday denied all the allegations.

The tribunal earlier heard major inconsistencies were found between the custody record at the station and garda statements, revealing numerous officers appeared to be interviewing Ms Quinn at the one time with other gardaí listed as being in two places at once.

Custody officer Garda Bosco Gallagher, who was in charge of Ms Quinn’s welfare, stood by his entries. He said she made no complaints over her treatment when leaving the station.