McBrearty scandal - No garda should not be above law

Underlining the case that criminal prosecutions must be brought against those gardaí responsible for visiting a reign of terror and persecution on the McBrearty family, is the malaise revealed in the Irish Examiner today.

Until now, the reason the family was subjected to a protracted campaign of harassment by a cadre of gardaí has remained a mystery, it being popularly understood that it was linked to the unfortunate death of cattle dealer Richie Barron.

It transpires that, according to the family, the harassment was not linked to Mr Barron’s death but apparently sprung from a misconceived notion of retribution for a colleague, Sergeant Danny McHugh, who was forced to retire on foot of a legitimate complaint lodged against him by Frank McBrearty Snr.