Group formed to fight 'systematic' misconduct

A new group has been established to combat what it says is systematic miscounduct and political influence within the agencies of the State.

At a press conference in Dublin this morning four members of Anti-Corruption Ireland outlined the need for an independent organistion to change the way corruption is dealt with.

Frank McBrearty Jnr, who was wrongly accused of murdering Donegal cattle dealer Richie Barron, used his own High Court case as a basis when he said "in this country you don't ever get justice you get compensation".

He said people without money have no Constitutional rights and those who were rich were looked after much better.

"I fought the State and a brick wall was put in front of me. They employed the best lawyers and paid for those lawyers using taxpayers money to cover up the mistakes of their organisations and agencies".

Mr McBrearty Jnr said he would serve a "book of evidence" on the Taoiseach outlining outstanding issues not dealt with by the Morris tribunal. After giving this to Mr Ahern, he said he would publish this file.

He said 75 per cent of what happened in Donegal had been left out of the tribunal.

Also at the launch today was Larry Wheelock, brother of Terence Wheelock who died three months after apparently trying to hang himself while in Garda custody.

Mr Wheelock denies his brother was depressed or suicidal. He also said that the Garda who was appointed to inquire into the circumstances surrounding his brother's death had been stationed in Store St for twenty years. "He is investigating his mates. What we want is a full, independent inquiry".

Osgur Breathnach, a human rights activist who was wrongly accused of involvement in the Sallins mail train robbery 29 years ago, said the need for Anti-Corruption Ireland was evidenced by the fact that in the past 30 years all the allegations he had made regarding Garda behaviour had been repeated, time after time.

The first national meeting of Anti-Corruption Ireland will take place in Dublin's Mansion House at 2pm on Saturday November 19 ^th.

Among the speakers will be; Frank McBrearty Jnr, Frank Connolly, Aisling Reidy, Dan Boyle TD, Joe Higgins TD, Eammon McCann, Mary Lou MacDonald MEP, Pat Doherty MP, Osgur Breatnach, Nicky Kelly and Paul Hill.