Gardaí took nine months to probe false arrest claims

Gardaí took nine months to probe claims a Raphoe man was framed for making sinister death threats with a silver bullet, it emerged today.

The Morris Tribunal was told a complaint was lodged by Mark McConnell in February 1999 naming several gardaí who had set him up.

Mr McConnell told detectives he had been set up by three stooges who were being pulled along by two donkeys.

But it was not until November of that year, almost nine months later, that a top officer was dispatched to probe allegations of a stitch-up.

Mr McConnell and Michael Peoples were arrested after a Sligo man claimed he was intimidated and warned not to give evidence against the McBrearty family over breaches of licensing laws.

It was alleged the pair threatened him with a silver bullet.

Solicitors for Mr McConnell wrote to the Garda Complaints Board in February 1999. A four page hand-written statement complained about his arrest and detention on October 1, 1998 and named several officers.

It was not until November that Chief Superintendent John Carey from Mayo was asked to follow up the claims.

But the board deemed the complaint was constructively dismissed after Mr McConnell refused to back it up with a signed statement.

The Chief Supt headed more than 20 probes into allegations of harassment and complaints made against the gardaí by the McBrearty family in the late 1990s.

The tribunal ruled the letter would not be read into the record after disgraced former Supt Kevin Lennon and lawyers for Sergeant John White, branded a liar by the inquiry, objected.

The pair claimed they would not have the opportunity to defend the allegations.

Det Garda Dominick Hunt, who worked with the Carty team probing irregularities among Donegal gardaí, said Michael Peoples staunchly denied any part in the Silver Bullet affair.

Det Hunt, who has more than 30 years investigative experience, was called in to quiz Mr Peoples over the allegations.

“As the interview went on I was slightly concerned at his continuing denial and his so adamant denial that he wasn’t involved in this crime,” Det Hunt said.

“I had a gut feeling, as I said, I was concerned that he was denying this vehemently.

But he said there were suspicions of Mr Peoples’ involvement in the alleged sinister threats.

“He was arrested on a clear identification that he was at the home. It was not for me to say if he was innocent or guilty at this stage,” he said.

The Silver Bullet module is probing an alleged tangle of lies around the arrest and detention of Raphoe men Mark McConnell and Michael Peoples.

The pair were accused of threatening Bernard Conlon with a silver bullet at a house in Sligo in July 1998.

It is alleged one of the men told Conlon “there is one for you and one for White” (Sgt John White).

Mr Conlon eventually admitted the complaint was false and had been made at the instigation of Sgt White.

He was convicted of making false statements against Mr McConnell and Mr Peoples. Sgt White was cleared of any wrongdoing.