Phone records 'will quash secret Garda meeting claim'

Phone records could clear up allegations of gardaí holding a secret meeting following the death of a Donegal cattle dealer, the Morris Tribunal heard today.

Detective Sergeant John White claimed that his phone records, as well as those of another garda, John O’Dowd, would show that he could not have met with other gardaí to discuss worries the morning after Richie Barron’s death.

Earlier this week, the tribunal heard that Assistant Commissioner Kevin Carty told investigators that Det Sgt White had informed him that Gda O’Dowd, who was working on the night of Mr Barron’s death, had contacted the detective sergeant the following day.

Det Sgt White, who is currently on sick leave from the force, earlier accused AC Carty of lying on the matter.

The detective sergeant said if there had been a gathering it would mean he conspired with the two gardaí to cover up something.

Det Sgt White, who is giving evidence to the tribunal which is probing alleged Garda corruption in Donegal, contests that the meeting took place.

The tribunal heard that AC Carty said that Det Sgt White informed him that Gda O’Dowd and Garda Padraig Mulligan met with the detective sergeant and discussed their worries over the night of Mr Barron’s death, and Det Sgt White advised them to tell the truth about being in the pub.

Det Sgt White said phone records obtained by a private investigator Billy Flynn for that October in 1996 would show there were no incoming calls to his phone from the two gardaí.

“It would show no contact during that period between myself and Gda O’Dowd or Gda Mulligan,” Det Sgt White said. “Because I was working in west Donegal and I had no connection with that part of the county at the time.”

He added: “Looking at Gda O’Dowd’s print-out for the morning of the 14, which is in the file somehwere, there is no contact to me that morning.”

Det Sgt White said: “We did not have a meeting in my house. I have never been more certain of anything in my life.”