Detective admits to tribunal to breaking law to get phone records

A private detective today admitted illegally obtaining telephone records in an attempt to clear the names of a Donegal family at the centre of a botched murder inquiry.

Billy Flynn, who was hired by Raphoe nightclub owner Frank McBrearty to investigate an alleged garda campaign of harassment against his family, admitted he could be charged for his actions.

The private investigator told the Morris Tribunal he discovered a hoax blackmail telephone call in 1997 was made from the home of a serving garda officer in Co Donegal.

At the time, he was hired by the McBreartys who were wrongly accused of involvement in the death of cattle dealer Richie Barron, who it was later found died in a hit-and-run collision.

“What I did was an unlawful act, and I could face charges on it,” Mr Flynn told the hearings into garda corruption.

“But I considered, my clients were facing murder charges, their pub was being harassed, McBrearty Snr was being accused of bribery, and I was prepared to take the risk.”

Mr Flynn said he told gardaí about the information he had received but refused to disclose the source of the records.

He was convinced that officers were intent on cutting off his source, he told the tribunal. “I had to protect the loyalty of my friend...,” he said.