Donegal garda appears in court on firearms charge

A Garda sergeant arrested by detectives conducting a long-running probe into alleged corruption among officers in Co Donegal today appeared in court charged with possessing of illegal firearm.

John Christopher White, aged 47, is accused of possession of the weapon in May 1998 at Inch Level, Burnfoot, in Co Donegal.

He was remanded in custody with consent to bail of £450, with an independent surety of £1,000, by Letterkenny District Court.

The court heard that when White, of Dreenan, Ballybofey, was charged at Letterkenny Garda Station last night he replied: ‘‘Not guilty’’.

His solicitor said that he was challenging the charge because his client was in the middle of making a statement.

Following his arrest on Tuesday, White was suspended from duty by Garda Commissioner Pat Byrne and it is understood he had been on sick leave for some time.

His arrest was the latest arising out of an investigation set up in April 1999 and headed by Assistant Commissioner Kevin Carty to investigate allegations of corruption in the Donegal division.

A number of civilians have been charged with making false statements to police and wasting police time but White becomes the first police officer to face legal proceedings.

A number of members of the force have faced police disciplinary action.

Earlier this month, four Donegal men were charged with making false statements to police and wasting police time between November 1996 and July 1997 after evidence emerged from the Carty inquiry.