Falsely-accused 'murder suspect' hits out at garda 'blue wall'

Gardaí in Donegal have erected a blue wall around them that will not be penetrated or demolished, it was claimed today.

Mark McConnell told the Morris Tribunal that he naively believed an officer with a conscience would speak out and tell the truth over allegations of intimidation and abuse within the force.

Mr McConnell, who was wrongly accused of murder 10 years ago, said admissions by Garda John Dooley that his wife Roisin was abused while in custody has given him hope.

“After ten years of despair, we thought that there was a bit of light at the end of the tunnel when Garda Dooley admitted the wrongdoing to my wife Roisin,” Mr McConnell told tribunal chairman, Mr Justice Frederick Morris, in his closing submission.

“It lifted a huge weight off my wife’s shoulders that had been on them for the best part of 10 years, and only Garda Dooley came forward she would have been put through an ordeal in this tribunal while giving evidence where she would no doubt have been accused of lying and making up false allegations by certain legal teams present here, as I have been accused.

“In my module there has been a blue wall erected by all gardai who were involved in interrogating me which my wife and I have found extremely distressing.

“The fact that every single one (accusation) is denied, no matter how trivial, shows that the gardai as a whole are in complete denial of any allegation made that day in the belief that the blue wall they have erected will not be penetrated or demolished in any way.

“I suppose I was naïve myself when I thought one of them might show some conscience as John Dooley did and tell the truth.”

Mr McConnell and his cousin Frank McBrearty Jnr were prime suspects for the suspected murder of Richie Barron, a local cattle, in October 1996.

It was later ruled Mr Barron was the victim of a hit-and-run. No-one has ever been charged in relation to his death.

Mr McConnell was quizzed for 12 hours in Letterkenny Garda Station in relation to his death on December 4, 1996.

The father-of-two claims he was pushed, roared, shouted and swore at during questioning, and that notes from the interview were later fabricated.

In a subsequent interview the same day, Mr McConnell maintains gardai threatened to put his child in care and showed him graphic autopsy photographs and a false confession signed by Mr McBrearty Jr.

During his second arrest in June 1997, Mr McConnell claimed gardai tried to get him to make a false statement blaming his co-accused for the killing.

The dad of two was wrongfully arrested a third time in October 1998 in relation to a firearms offence, when he alleges a gun was produced during an interview and his injured leg was pushed from a chair.

Gardaí have denied the allegations.

Mr McConnell refuted claims by legal teams for the gardai that he was bolstering his accusations for his pending High Court case.

“It is the truth I want to get, it has never been anything to do with the money,” he added, stressing he has already refused an out of court offer from the Garda Commissioner.

Earlier, the most senior officer in Donegal denied Mr McConnell was arrested for the firearms offence because he had been a murder suspect.

Former Chief Supt Denis Fitzpatrick told the Morris Tribunal Mark McConnell was detained solely on allegations that he threatened a man with a silver bullet.

The Morris Tribunal, which is investigating garda corruption in Donegal, is currently hearing claims some 12 people – many related to the McBrearty family - were interrogated, intimidated and abused during the botched death probe.

The hearing will resume on Thursday when Frank McBrearty Snr is expected to take the stand.