Two of the four gardaí criticised in Morris report dismissed from force

TWO of the four gardaí severely criticised in this week’s Morris Tribunal reports have been dismissed from the force.

A third garda, Detective Sergeant John White, who is suspended from duty and is the focus of the three reports, is thought to be facing a disciplinary inquiry.

A fourth garda, who the tribunal was told faced more than 30 disciplinary charges, has retired from the force.

Some of the details were confirmed to the Irish Examiner yesterday by the Garda Press Office.

Justice Minister Michael McDowell yesterday said he understood Det Sgt White faced a disciplinary inquiry.

The tribunal found Det Sgt White planted a shotgun at a Travellers’ site to enable arrests and invented a conspiracy that superior officers were out to discredit him.

In a second case, Det Sgt White used an informer, Bernard Conlon, in a campaign against the extended McBrearty family, members of which were wrongly treated as chief suspects in the 1996 death of cattle dealer Richie Barron.

The tribunal also found that a hoax bomb was placed near a mast by or on behalf of Det Sgt White.

He plans to take legal action to clear his name.

He was found not guilty in court last month of planting the gun at the Travellers’ site and acquitted last year on separate charges in relation to the Bernard Conlon module.

The Garda Press Office confirmed that Garda Martin Leonard and Garda Padraig Mulligan had both been dismissed.

They, also with Sergeant Jack Conaty, invented a story to provide a defence for Det Sgt White.

The Garda Press Office confirmed that Sgt Jack Conaty has retired.

The tribunal said the then suspended officer was facing 30 disciplinary enquiries.

In relation to four other criticised gardaí:

Garda McDermott has retired, while Garda McDwyer is suspended.

Garda Rattigan and Garda Anderson were still serving.