Gardaí deny intimidating woman over 'cover-up'

Gardaí today denied claims they threatened and intimidated a Donegal woman accused of covering up for a murder suspect in Donegal.

The Morris Tribunal heard Edel Quinn, who officers suspected was hiding information in relation to the death of cattle dealer Richie Barron, was a model prisoner.

Detective Sergeant Desmond Sheridan told the hearing Ms Quinn fully co-operated and interviews were carried out with respect and courtesy towards her at all times.

Ms Quinn – one of 12 people quizzed in the botched death probe – was interviewed four times during her 12-hour detention at Lifford garda station on December 4, 1996.

Gardaí believed she was covering up for her brother-in-law Mark McConnell, who was wrongly suspected of killing Mr Barron on October 14. It was later ruled he had been the victim of a hit-and-run.

Ms Quinn had met Mr McConnell and wife Roisin in a nightclub in Raphoe at 1.30am, half an hour after Mr Barron’s body was found on a roadside.

She was questioned extensively about Mr McConnell in relation to the clothes he wore on the night, and if he cried when he heard Mr Barron had died.

“She was a model prisoner,” said the Det Sgt. “We had no difficulty whatsoever with her. She was very truthful with the answers she gave me.”

DS Sheridan was asked why, if she was co-operated fully and honestly, he supported calls to extend Ms Quinn’s detention for a further six hours.

“We were told in the briefing she knew possibly more than she said in her statement,” he added. “I was trying to find out if she knew more.”

During her arrest, Ms Quinn claims she was classed as bad as the motorbike driver in the Veronica Guerin murder, was told she had been followed and photographed by officers for six weeks prior to her arrest, and threatened with a 14 year jail sentence for being an accessory after the fact of murder.

She also maintains she was asked if she wanted to see Mr Barron’s autopsy pictures, was warned she would be blacklisted, called a liar, alleged her sister had already confessed they both knew the truth, questioned if she had gone to confession, and was made swear the truth on what she believed was the Bible.

DS Sheridan told the hearing there was nothing controversial about the interviews which were carried out with Garda Pauline Golden. Both officers today strenuously denied all the allegations.

“I have been thinking why did she make these false allegations against me,” said Gda Golden, whose recollection of events was questioned by Judge Frederick Morris.

“An answer that I can come up with is that I was the only female member interviewing Edel Quinn and it was easy to say it was I who said these things or walked around the room.”

The tribunal earlier heard major inconsistencies were found between the detailed custody record at the station and gardaí statements, revealing numerous officers appeared to be interviewing Ms Quinn at the one time with other gardaí listed as being in two places at once.

Custody officer Garda Bosco Gallagher, who was in charge of Ms Quinn’s welfare, stood by his entries. He added the prisoner made no complaints over her welfare or treatment when leaving the station.

The tribunal is currently examining claims those arrested – many related to the McBrearty family – were intimidated or abused during their detention.

Two gardaí previously admitted subjecting Ms Quinn’s sisters Katrina Brolly and Roisin McConnell to hours of verbal and psychological torture in Letterkenny garda station.