Disgraced detective urges former colleague to withdraw conspiracy claims

An ex-detective sacked from the gardaí today made an emotional plea for a retired colleague to withdraw allegations of his involvement in a police conspiracy.

Former Detective Sergeant John White insisted he was not behind anonymous allegations about corruption within the force passed to senior opposition politicians seven years ago.

The claims – typed out in two documents and faxed to the Labour Party’s Brendan Howlin and Fine Gael’s Jim Higgins – added pressure on the government at the time to set up the Morris Tribunal.

Mr White accused retired Garda officer, PJ Togher, who worked part-time for Donegal publican Frank McBrearty Snr, of typing up the allegations.

He dismissed suggestions by Mr Togher’s barrister, Kevin D’Arcy, that it was he who was behind the allegations that high-ranking garda officers involved in an internal investigation were compromised.

“I can tell you categorically that I most certainly had no knowledge of the existence of that second fax until sometime in 2003 when Mr Brian Garvey from the tribunal spoke to me,” he said.

“I don’t know exactly who constructed it but I have no doubt that PJ Togher typed it, as I have no doubt he typed the first fax.”

Mr White vented his fury at Mr D’Arcy’s client during the hearing. “I’m terribly surprised and shocked that PJ Togher has given you instructions to allege before this tribunal that I am responsible for those faxes,” he said.

“He has done enough harm to me over the last seven years and if he had any shred of decency in him now he’d stop this craziness. Just stop it now and withdraw it. Because you are doing me more harm now than you have done over the last seven years.”