Man arrested ‘was not murder suspect’

A GARDA officer yesterday said he never believed a man he stated was arrested for murder was involved in the actual alleged offence.

Michael Peoples was arrested by gardaí in Raphoe, Co Donegal, on September 4, 1996, for the alleged murder of cattle dealer Richie Barron.

Garda Vincent Bourke, one of the arresting party, made a statement based on custody records the following year that Mr Peoples was arrested for murder by Sergeant Michael Keane. But Mr Bourke told the Morris Tribunal he never believed the suspect was actually involved.

“He was arrested for murder. But on hearing (Sgt) Mick Keane’s evidence (to the tribunal) I can’t say what Mick Keane actually said, whether he arrested him for murder,” he said. “I didn’t ever believe he was involved in the actual murder.”

Garda Bourke denied claims at the tribunal by Mr Peoples that he was repeatedly called a “lying murdering bastard” on the car journey from his arrest at his St Eunan’s Terrace home to Letterkenny Garda Station.

Gardaí accused Mr Peoples of assisting their two main suspects — Frank McBrearty jnr and Mark McConnell — cover up the death. It was later found Mr Barron died as the result of a hit-and-run, not murder.

The Morris Tribunal is investigating claims some 12 people arrested and detained in the late 1990s in connection with the death were threatened and abused during garda interviews.

Mr Bourke, Detective Garda Patrick Flynn and Sgt Keane called to Mr Peoples’ house at 8am on the day of the arrest.

The suspect was arrested by Sgt Keane at the door before apparently being allowed to return inside his home to get dressed, Garda Bourke testified. He said he knew that Mr Peoples’ wife, Charlotte, was to be arrested later that morning.

Mr Barr inferred the sequence of events was improbable, as Sgt Keane would not let Mr Peoples out of his sight to communicate with someone who was also facing arrest.