Doorman accused of making up garda visit

A nightclub doorman was today accused of changing his evidence at the Morris Tribunal because his claim for damages at the High Court was flawed.

Liam O’Donnell, who worked for Donegal publican Frank McBrearty Snr, denied he created a visit by two gardaí to his home on January 11, 1997.

Earlier this month, Mr O’Donnell told the tribunal he was being quizzed about an assault in his house when disgraced Garda Sergeant John White threatened to have him jailed.

But in a previous statement to the High Court, Mr O’Donnell claims the threats were made when he was arrested on February 4, 1997.

Evidence has proved Sgt White was not present at his arrest.

“There will be no more broken legs or cracked heads in Raphoe,” he accused Sgt White of saying.

“You can go back and tell your mafia boss that. You might as well sell your house and move away, nobody will come near you. What will it be like for your kids, having an ex-con for a father? You’ll be getting five years for this.”

Mr O’Donnell – who was later acquitted of the charges – alleges the exact same comments were made to him on two separate occasions in front of Gda John O’Dowd.

Both officers, who have been sacked from the force, deny the allegations.

Conor Connelly, acting for Mr O’Dowd, told Mr O’Donnell there was a serious flaw between his evidence at the tribunal and during recent High Court action against the State.

The case was settled recently out of court, with the doorman receiving a substantial sum.

Mr O’Donnell, who claimed legal privilege by refusing the tribunal access to papers between him and his solicitor or discussing their meetings, told the tribunal his High Court case had nothing to do with the tribunal.

He refused to reply to allegations that he was not handing over the notes as their contents differed from what he has told the tribunal.

Mr Connelly accused the doorman of creating the visit to his home on January 11.

“I’m putting it to you the reason you’ve created that is because you realised that your High Court proceedings had a serious flaw and the flaw was that because you had attributed to Sgt White threats and comments on February 4th 1997 at a time when he wasn’t even present,” said Mr Connelly.

The solicitor added that his client did not witness any threats being made on any occasion .

“I didn’t make it up,” replied Mr O’Donnell. “It did occur.”

Mr O’Donnell and his wife Kathleen claimed the incident in their home was a nightmare which affected Mr O’Donnell’s mental state.