The Morris tribunal has heard how a family's life was "turned upside down" after a Garda and Army search of their home and farm in Co Donegal.
Mr James Gallagher, from St Johnston, told the tribunal that "some extremely horrific things" had happened during the "serious and quite vicious invasion" of his parents' farm as part of a search for explosives and subversive paraphernalia in 1997.
A low-flying helicopter had caused sheep to take fright and four of them were strangled in a gate, he said, while others aborted their lambs afterwards.
His business collapsed because of the suspicion that was cast on his family after the event and he had to emigrate to Australia.
The family never had a "shadow of a connection" with any paramilitary or subversive organisation and were appalled by violence, he said.
Dozens of gardaí and soldiers searched the Gallagher property over a three-day period and found nothing. The search was under way when Mr Gallagher returned from work on March 3rd, 1997. The yard lights were off and when he stepped from his van he was surrounded by four armed men.
He was in "a complete state of shock" when one of the men put him up against the van. His parents were in "deep shock" and could not find out what was happening. Whenever they asked who had organised the search, they were told that it had been ordered by Supt Kevin Lennon.
He said they later learned that the search was based on the sole word of Mr William Doherty, who was found to be "an unreliable informer".
Yesterday, Supt Lennon denied that he had organised the search or ordered the search warrant. However, Mr Alfie Gallagher, father of James, told the tribunal that he spoke to Supt Lennon at the scene.
He said he asked Supt Lennon to have some Garda vehicles moved because his wife was unable to leave the yard to visit her GP. He had "no doubt whatsoever" that the man he spoke to was Supt Lennon.
"I just want to put it you, Mr Gallagher, that you are mistaken, that I wasn't out on that search . . . never had contact with you," said Supt Lennon, who is representing himself at the tribunal.
"Well, that's a joke," Mr Gallagher replied.
Sgt Martin Moylan also told the tribunal that the search was ordered by Supt Lennon, with two other men. He said he was told that a trailer on the Gallagher farm was going to bring mortars to Strabane, but the focus of the search shifted to an area where gardaí believed a bunker existed.
