Garda tells Charleton Tribunal she was disturbed and upset at letter to Minister

Brigid

A garda sergeant has told the Charleton Tribunal that she found it "disturbing and upsetting" when a letter was sent to Minister for Children Katherine Zappone claiming she had threatened "repercussions" if the partner of a garda whistleblower failed to make a statement, writes Gerard Cunningham

Sergeant Brigid McGowan said the letter, sent by solicitors for Garda Keith Harrison and his partner Ms Marisa Simms, stated that "during her eight-hour interview, she [Ms Simms] was coerced into making a statement with a threat that if she didn’t, there may be repercussions for her and her children."