McBrearty awarded costs at High Court

Frank McBrearty Jr has been awarded the costs of his action against the State arising from his wrongful treatment at the hands of gardaí in Donegal.

The High Court struck out his applications today following a settlement reached in September between the Raphoe man and the gardaí for €1.5m.

Mr McBrearty was arrested in 1996 on suspicion of being involved with the death of cattle dealer Richie Barron, but he was never charged.

Speaking outside court today, he said he had other cases pending against the State.

Mr McBrearty said the biggest task now facing him was to find out why the State kept it from him and from another suspect, Martin O’Connell, for three years that they were no longer suspects in the case.

He said he was consistently cross-examined at the Morris Tribunal even when they were aware he was no longer a suspect.