Garda admits role in forging police files

A Garda sergeant today confessed to his role in forging police files of a murder case.

Sergeant Brian McEntee said it was “totally daft, madness, stupid” when he asked a colleague to alter interview notes from the investigation into Donegal cattle dealer Richie Barron’s death.

Then a detective, he claimed he became embroiled in the cover-up after he was approached by his then senior officer Inspector John McGinley (later Superintendent, recently retired).

The inspector interrogated mother-of-two Roisin McConnell, who was wrongly arrested on December 4, 1996, in connection with Mr Barron’s death.

After the interview he asked to have two questions removed from the official record, Sergeant McEntee told the Morris Tribunal.

He said he was prompted to ask his colleague and friend Detective Garda John Harkin – who was responsible for the notes – to amend them.

“I accept now that nothing should have been touched,” he said in the witness stand for the first time during the hearings.

“I shouldn’t have acceded to the request.”

He added: “I apologise for that.”

Mr Barron was later found to have died as a result of a hit-and-run collision. Complaints from other wrongly arrested suspects in the case ultimately led to the tribunal and the unravelling of a web of corruption within the force.