Garda denies harassing 'bullying' publican

A garda today denied harassing a Donegal publican who he claimed was a bully who always wanted his own way.

Garda Shaun Barrett told the Morris Tribunal members visited Frank McBrearty Snr’s nightclub in Raphoe to rigorously enforce the licensing laws because of public order problems in the town.

The garda said Mr McBrearty Snr and his family tried to tell gardaí what to do, maintaining he was harassed by the McBrearty’s who stared at him, his wife and young children.

The McBrearty’s later requested the officer be transferred from the station.

“I would have to say, my view of them, they were bullies,” said garda Barrett.

“They all wanted to bully you. And if they couldn’t bully you, if you stood up and didn’t do what they were directing, they didn’t like you. They wanted you gone. It was as simple as that.”

Garda Barrett moved to Raphoe station on July 14, 1997 with colleagues garda Eamonn Doherty and garda Noel Keavney.

He said besides knowing Frank McBrearty Jnr and Mark McConnell were chief suspects for the murder of cattle dealer Richie Barron, he had no prior knowledge of the McBrearty family.

But he said he soon became aware of the animosity from the McBreartys, particularly towards Sgt John White and John O’Dowd.

“It always was my view I was there to implement the law,” he said. “That was it. I had no issue with anybody. I never met them before I went there. I had no issue to bear with them.”

Mr McBrearty Snr claims gardaí launched a campaign of harassment against his family, staff and customers following a botched death probe.

In October 1996, gardaí suspected Mr McBrearty Jnr and his cousin Mr McConnell killed Mr Barron whose body was found on a roadside. It was later ruled Mr Barron was the victim of a hit-and-run. No one has been charged in relation to his death.

Garda Barrett told the tribunal within weeks after arriving in Raphoe he was verbally abused at the nightclub as he tired to empty it after a bomb threat had been made.

He said the McBreartys accused him of trying to destroy their business.

“Anything we did in Raphoe, anything we did that always viewed it as an attack on them and their business,” he added. “No matter what it was.”