Publican turned to drink after interrogation, Tribunal told

The wife of a publican today fought back tears as she claimed her husband turned to alcohol to cope with abuse and intimidation he allegedly suffered in Letterkenny garda station.

The Morris Tribunal heard how Mark Quinn’s arrest in December 1996 in relation to the death of cattle dealer Richie Barron put a strain on his marriage and business.

Donna Quinn told how her husband bottled everything up, suffering nightmares over graphic post mortem photographs he was shown by investigating officers.

“It took a lot out of both of us,” she said.

“It has affected Mark and it did affect our marriage for a long time. His way of coping with it was through alcohol and I suppose it was a way of shutting everything away instead of confronting it.

“We were naïve obviously when all this happened. We didn’t confront it when we should have and we are still dealing with the effects of it today.”

Mr Quinn was arrested for "covering up" for Mark McConnell, who gardaí wrongly believed had killed Mr Barron.

The publican owned the Town and Country pub in Raphoe where officers claimed Mr Barron and Mr McConnell had had a vicious and violent row the night before his boy was discovered. It was later accepted Mr Barron was the victim of a hit-and-run.

Giving evidence, Mr Quinn previously told the tribunal post mortem pictures of Mr Barron’s head and body were pushed into his face, with gardaí telling him to think of the white brains in the photographs as they gave him chicken to eat.

He also claims he was manhandled and dragged from his car during his arrest and shouted at continuously by interviewing officers, who thumped and banged the table. He also made allegations that he was pulled over the interviewing table twice and called a murdering bastard.

Former Detective Garda PJ Keating today denied all the accusations.

Mrs Quinn said her husband’s arrest was a complete shock and described how he was quiet, nervous and physically trembling during a 30-minute visit with him in custody. Once released, she said, Mr Quinn was very withdrawn.

“He has never wanted to talk about it and bottled everything up,” she continued. “He has never really dealt with it, only maybe through alcohol.

“Everybody was still chatting about it and in a small down like that there’s no smoke without fire. You’ve done something if you’ve been arrested.

“Mark just became very withdrawn in himself. It continued all the time we were in the pub. It’s never been very far from us since it happened.”

Two years after his ordeal the couple began to compile notes of events during Mr Quinn’s time in custody and are currently taking civil action against the state. Mr Quinn also completed a six-week rehabilitation course for alcohol.

“We needed to have a record,” continued Mrs Quinn. “I needed for him to confront it, he wouldn’t see anybody about the way he was feeling. I knew the way he was feeling was a result of what had happened to him. I thought maybe it was a way of helping him come to terms with what had happened.

“The other people who had been arrested had seeked (sic) legal advice and seemed to be doing something about it but Mark just wouldn’t and still wouldn’t confront it. I just wanted him to do something about it.”

The tribunal is examining claims 12 people, including many of Mr Quinn’s relations, were interrogated and intimidated during the botched probe in to Mr Barron’s death.