MEP 'needed source for Corruption claims, tribunal hears

Fine Gael MEP Jim Higgins said a retired garda was the source of ’Anonymous Allegations’ on garda corruption because he needed to make them credible, it was claimed today.

In a submission to the Morris Tribunal, the former officer’s barrister Kevin D’Arcy said the politician had to attribute the unfounded claims to someone reliable.

Mr Higgins, former Opposition justice spokesman, received an anonymous fax from publican Frank McBrearty Snr in 2000 detailing misconduct in the Donegal gardaí, which he later gave to the then Justice Minister John O’Donoghue.

The tribunal is trying to uncover the source of these allegations which ultimately led to the tribunal being set up.

Earlier this year Mr Higgins said he believed PJ Togher, a former garda and close friend of Mr McBrearty Snr, was responsible. He had previously told Mr O’Donoghue they came from an ex-garda.

But Mr D’Arcy claimed Mr Higgins named his client because the Fine Gael MEP needed a credible source to back up the allegations.

Counsel for Mr Higgins, Niall Mooney, said the allegation was unfounded and preposterous.

“I simply ask the tribunal in relation to Deputy Higgins to draw the obvious conclusions that Deputy Higgins needed a source,” Mr D’Arcy said.

“He needed some credible source, or a person to whom he could point.”

Mr D’Arcy said Mr Higgins had been screaming from the rooftops for a tribunal to be called and needed to attribute the corruption allegations.

Mr Justice Frederick Morris asked Mr D’Arcy why the Fine Gael MEP would dream up Mr Togher when Mr McBrearty Snr was publicly claiming garda corruption.

“I’m not saying that he dreamed up some person, but I’m saying he had to place a reliance on this person as being the source,” Mr D’Arcy said.

“Having gone to the minister, he needed to have some person.”

The finger of blame was also pointed at Mr Togher by internationally respected forensic scientist Dr Robert Radley after it emerged there were similar idiosyncrasies in letters typed by the former garda for Mr McBrearty Snr and the anonymous allegations.

Mr Togher has denied the accusation.

The Morris Tribunal will hear evidence behind closed doors for the rest of the week before the next sub-module focusing on claims of garda harassment are explored.