Garda 'ashamed of failure to prevent mistreatment'

A Detective Garda has told the Morris Tribunal that he is ashamed of himself for not preventing an innocent woman from having her hair pulled while in custody 10 years ago.

Garda John Dooley had originally denied that Katrina Brolly and Roisin McConnell were mistreated after being arrested in connection with the death of Richie Barron in Co Donegal in 1996.

However, he recently changed his statement and admitted that, not only were the women wrongfully arrested, but their claims about mistreatment were also true.

Among other abuses, Ms Brolly says her hair was pulled by a female officer, Garda Joan Gallagher, while she was being interrogated in Letterkenny Garda Station.

Garda Gallagher has denied the allegation, but Garda Dooley, who was there at the time, told the tribunal today that the assault did happen.

He also said he was ashamed that he did nothing to stop it.

Garda Dooley said it gave him no pleasure to make the admission as he and Garda Gallagher were good friends and very loyal towards each other.