Morris Tribunal concludes 'murder probe' detention module

The Morris Tribunal into garda corruption in Donegal today concluded its sub-module into the detention of Michael Peoples.

The father-of-one was wrongly arrested on December 4, 1996, for the murder of cattle dealer Richie Barron.

Gardaí accused Mr Peoples of assisting their two main suspects – Frank McBrearty jnr and Mark McConnell – by helping them wash their clothes after the death.

It was later found Mr Barron died as the result of a hit-and-run rather than murder.

Mr Peoples was arrested again on May 6, 1999, and questioned over two days at Manorhamilton Garda Station in Co Leitrim.

Bernard Conlon falsely identified him as one of two men who threatened him with a silver bullet if he gave evidence in a licensing case against Raphoe publicans, the McBreartys.

The case was later dropped by prosecutors.

Solicitor Ken Smith told the tribunal he spoke on the telephone with Mr Peoples on May 7 while he was being detained at Manorhamilton.

“Clearly he wasn’t very happy being in custody, but he hadn’t be mistreated,” he said.

Counsel for former gardaí Richard Caplice and Dominick Hunt said there were suggestions of gardai mistreatment of Mr Peoples and asked was that the case during the Manorhamilton detenion.

“Clearly the underlying context was that he shouldn’t have been arrested in the first place ... but within that and within the parameters of his being arrested for a second 24 hours I established that he seemed to be treated well,” said Mr Smith.

Counsel for Detective Garda Pat Flynn, Garda Vincent Bourke, Garda Bosco Gallagher and Superintendent John Fitzgerald said the evidence was there were no complaints against his clients.

“There is no adverse comment can be made against any of those persons involved,” he said.

The tribunal is expected to sit again on September 18 to hear the rest of the sub-module concerning the detention of Roisin McConnell on December 4, 1996.

It is currently investigating claims some 12 people arrested and detained in the late 1990s in connection with Mr Barron’s death were threatened and abused during garda interviews.

Mr Peoples maintains he was repeatedly verbally abused in the back of a patrol car and during his 12-hour detention at Lifford Garda Station by Det Insp Michael Keane and Garda Philip Collins.

DI Keane has previously denied the allegations.

Philip Collins – who allegedly called Mr Peoples a ’lying, murdering bastard’ - failed to appear before the tribunal yesterday.