Garda scandal set to hit big screen

THE story of the McBrearty Garda corruption scandal could be coming to a cinema near you.

The author of a new book on the crisis said “early approaches” have been made about turning the story into a film.

After the death of cattle dealer Richie Barron in Raphoe, Co Donegal, in 1996, gardaí investigating the incident wrongly accused local publican Frank McBrearty Junior over the incident.

As the five-year Morris Tribunal later confirmed, rank-and-file gardaí created evidence and made bogus arrests, before attempting to cover up their actions during the investigation.

During this time, Mr McBrearty was also arrested and subjected to verbal and psychological abuse.

Speaking as his book, Chaos and Conspiracy, went on sale yesterday, reporter and author Gerard Cunningham said the possibility of seeing the scandal on the silver screen could soon become a reality.

“People are talking that it would make an excellent drama, whether that makes a TV series or a one-off TV drama or ends up being a film,” he said.

“It depends on so many things. There’s been early approaches but nothing more.”

The corruption surrounding the McBrearty case only came to light after a private detective found evidence of Garda misconduct in Raphoe.

After the situation was first highlighted, a legal battle began in the Donegal district courts, which led to the High Court and the Morris Tribunal which cleared the McBreartys of any wrongdoing.