Morris Tribunal: Garda recalls 'lawlessness' of town

A garda sergeant who spent two years during the late 1990s in Raphoe, Co Donegal, today told a tribunal she believed the small town was lawless and plagued with anti-social behaviour.

Sgt Sarah Hargadon, who was transferred from Letterkenny to Raphoe in June 1997, told the Morris Tribunal that crime in the area was out of order despite a full-time garda presence.

She said drinking was particularly bad outside Frank McBrearty Senior’s nightclub.

The tribunal is currently investigating allegations of garda harassment made by the McBreartys against gardai, who are accused of singling out the family’s licensed business for excessive inspections.

“I couldn’t believe it was as bad as it was,” Sgt Hargadon said.

“There was a lot of anti-social behaviour and it was just a sub-district that I felt was out of order. Drinking in general I felt was serious in Raphoe, and especially around Frankie’s nightclub.”

Sgt Hargadon said there were burglaries, larcenies and acts of criminal damage in the area and the town was mayhem.

“At the time I went there, I would have known about Raphoe that it was a rough sub-district,” she said.

When I went there I had no idea that the anti-social behaviour was as bad as it was.”

Junior barrister for the tribunal, Kathleen Leader, asked if the town was a lawless place.

Sgt Hargadon said: “That’s how it appeared at that time.”