Suspended garda blames depression for memory lapses

A suspended garda at the centre of the Morris Tribunal today revealed he suffers from depression and is seeing a psychiatrist.

Det Sgt John White, who broke down in the witness box yesterday, today blamed his medical condition for memory lapses during cross-examination by the inquiry’s lawyers.

The 50-year-old, who is into his third day of evidence in the ’Silver Bullet’ module, denies corruption allegations by a Sligo petty criminal Bernard Conlon.

Pressed for specific details on incidents by Paul McDermott, SC, Det Sgt White said: “I’m suffering from depression and I regularly attend a psychiatrist and I’m just not able to have a memory for all these things. I’m telling the truth.”

“I’m very anxious after five-and-a-half years to show clinically that I’m innocent.

“My life has been consumed by this – telephone calls, meetings, reading thousands of documents…”

Mr Conlon claims that in August 1997, Det Sgt White told him to get caught after-hours drinking in a Raphoe pub owned by the McBrearty family and later act as a state witness in a prosecution case.

The Sligo man also alleges that the detective told him to make up a story that two members of the McBrearty family threatened him with a silver bullet if he gave evidence against them.

Det Sgt White, who is a native of Bansha, Co Tipperary, was suspended in 2001 after the allegations came to light.

He broke down during cross-examination yesterday after he challenged the tribunal to call his elderly mother and wife to support an alibi against one of Mr Conlon’s claims.