Witness demands Garda records on 'Kerry babies' case

A key figure at the Morris tribunal today demanded to examine Garda records in the Kerry Babies case.

Frank McBrearty junior, who was arrested and later cleared in relation to the death of cattle dealer Richie Barron, said he wanted to discover if there was a historical pattern of falsification of statements by gardaí.

“I’m supposed to have made a confession to a crime that didn’t happen like the five people in the Kerry babies case. I want to show a pattern of fabricating notes and framing people up,” said Mr McBrearty.

In 1984, gardaí in Kerry brought charges against five people, including a young mother, in connection with the discovery of two dead babies within a fortnight.

The mother, Joanne Hayes, had buried her own dead baby on her farm but totally denied any connection to the body of a second infant, which was discovered on the White Strand beach in Caherciveen.

A tribunal of inquiry failed to establish what had happened but in the aftermath the Garda Murder Squad was disbanded and the Garda Complaints Board was established.

Mr McBrearty said he wanted copies of all statements taken in the Kerry Babies investigation, as well as statements taken for a case which is currently ongoing in the courts.

He also requested every Garda statement ever taken by the four officers who arrested him on December 4, 1996.

Mr McBrearty has accused the Gardaí of fabricating his alleged confession, while similar allegations were made by Joanne Hayes and her family in the Kerry Babies case.

Mr Justice Frederick Morris said: “I recognise the point you’re making, that there’s a similarity there. I will discuss this with tribunal counsel.”

He said the tribunal would adopt this line of inquiry if there was any advantage to be gained.