Morris Tribunal: Key witness Mr Frank McBrearty Jnr is today expected to begin his evidence before the Morris tribunal in Donegal town.
The tribunal has in the past two weeks heard evidence from several witnesses about the death of Raphoe cattle dealer Mr Richie Barron.
Yesterday, Ms Edel Quinn told the tribunal she was a sister of Ms Roisin McConnell, and wife of Mr Mark McConnell. On December 4th, 1996, she was arrested along with her sisters Roisin and Ms Catriona Brolly, wife of Mr Eunan Brolly.
Also arrested were Ms Charlotte Peoples and Mr Mark Quinn. They were charged with being an accessory after the fact in the murder of Mr Richie Barron. At 11 p.m. they went to the Tudor/Parting Glass, and about 12.30 a.m. Mr Frank McBrearty Jnr brought them into the nightclub for free. Here they were joined by Mark and Roisin McConnell. They left Frankie's nightclub after 1.30 a.m., and went to collect baby food and clothing at the McConnells. They left the McConnells at the Brolly's home, where they were to spend the night.
When they heard Mr Barron had been in an accident, Roisin was upset because they last time they had seen him, Mark had had an argument with Mr Barron.
Asked about rumours about the circumstances of Mr Barron's death, Ms Quinn said she paid them no heed. The rumours were focused on Mr Frank McBrearty Jnr and Mr Mark McConnell, but she didn't pay them any heed as she "knew he didn't do it".
She said Raphoe could be a "nasty little town" for gossip and rumour. "People thrive on gossip. They love it," she said.
Mr John Patton, a farmer who lives near Raphoe, told the tribunal he was first approached and asked if he had seen anything in Raphoe by Det Garda Patrick Tague at a checkpoint a week after Mr Barron died. Det Garda Tague asked was he in Raphoe the weekend before. "I just said I saw Frank McBrearty," he said.
Mr Patton said he had not said to Det Garda Tague that Mr Frank McBrearty Jnr "was like someone who had given someone a beating". He said he had not told Det Garda Tague he was "absolutely terrified of Mr McBrearty and was convinced Mr McBrearty was watching him" in the Parting Glass the week before.
He had seen one other person with Mr McBrearty, not two, and they were walking, not running. He said he had told Det Garda Tague he wanted his information kept confidential because he "just wanted to keep himself to himself".
He had not been under any pressure from any gardaí, or the McBreartys, or anyone in the nightclub, he said