Two senior gardaí criticised in Morris Tribunal retire

Two senior gardaí at the centre of the Morris Tribunal are to retire next month.

Superintendent Josesph Shelley and Detective Superintendent John McGinley were among several Donegal Gardaí criticised in the tribunal's second report.

The report found that the garda investigation into the death of Donegal cattle dealer Richie Barron was "prejudiced and utterly negligent".

Superintendent Joseph Shelley and Detective Superintendent John McGinley met with Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy at Garda headquarters yesterday.

They gave him notice of their retirement, to take effect from July 31.

The two men had been heavily criticised by Justice Frederick Morris, who said they shared with other Gardaí “the burden of fault” for the botched investigation into the death of Richie Barron in 1996.

The report found that gardaí in Donegal tried to frame Frank McBrearty Junior and Mark McConnell for murder, when in fact Mr Barron was killed in a hit-and-run accident.

Meanwhile, Frank McBrearty junior is due before the High Court on 21June – he’s pleading wrongful arrest by gardaí investigating Richie Barron’s death.

It’s believed up to 40 compensation claims have been lodged by people arrested or harassed by gardaí during the investigations.