McBrearty Snr: Finding that I wrote fax one more insult to endure

FRANK McBrearty Snr has denied he was behind faxes that alleged serious wrongdoing by two senior gardaí.

He said the finding of the Morris tribunal was “one more insult” he had to endure as a result of exposing corruption by gardaí in Donegal.

Mr Justice Frederick Morris found that Mr McBrearty and a retired garda, Patrick J Togher, composed two faxes which contained serious allegations about two assistant commissioners, Kevin Carty and Tony Hickey.

Mr Justice Morris said the allegations were “completely without substance” and that they damaged two officers who had “exemplary records”.

Mr McBrearty yesterday “vehemently” denied the conclusion and said he had “no idea” who the author of the documents was, which he said he had received anonymously. “The findings by the chairman is one more insult I have to endure as a consequence of the actions of those corrupt gardaí to set out to fit up my family and I for crimes we did not commit,” he said.

“I have paid an enormous personal price in my fight for justice. It has compromised my health and very nearly left me bankrupt.

“Chairman Morris’s criticism of me is just one further price I am to pay for the cause of unearthing corruption in An Garda Síochána, which wound never have been achieved without my efforts.

“The enormity of the abuse perpetrated upon me by An Garda Síochána over the years would cause many a citizen to fold under that pressure.”

The publican said the findings of the tribunal were made in circumstances where neither he nor his family were afforded legal aid at the tribunal, which gardaí had.

“My family and I have found the process of appearing before the tribunal without representation over the last six years particularly gruelling and traumatic.”