Senior garda in dramatic reverse of evidence

A senior Co Donegal garda has dramatically changed his evidence to the Morris tribunal by admitting for the first time that he mistreated suspects during interviews.

In an unexpected turn of events, Det Sgt John White faxed a new statement to the tribunal last Saturday in which he reversed earlier denials that he mistreated two women interviewees, Róisín McConnell and Katrina Brolly, in December 1996.

Ms McConnell and Ms Brolly, who were interrogated at Letterkenny Garda station during the Garda investigation into the death of cattle-dealer Richie Barron, allege that they were abused and assaulted.

Sgt White denied the allegations when investigated by the Garda Complaints Board in 1998 and he had continued to reject them in his contact with the tribunal until now.

Sgt White's new statement emerged at yesterday's sitting of the tribunal. Paul McDermott SC, for the tribunal, said it was an important development which had enormous significance for the evidence the tribunal was about to hear.

"If it is true, the statement confirms a sorry saga of mistreatment and abuse of the ladies."

In his new statement, Sgt White admits using abusive, excessive and inappropriate language during the interrogation, acknowledges that the spirit and the letter of Garda custody regulations were breached and accepts that his conduct "fell far below any acceptable standard".

He now agrees with many claims made by the women.

Graphic photographs of the body of Mr Barron were shown to the women and crude allegations of infidelity by Ms McConnell's husband, Mark, were made to her and Ms Brolly, he says.

Ms Brolly was denied access to her husband and a chair was "roughly skidded" across the room during Ms McConnell's interview.

The lights were switched on and off during the interview and information was kept out of the notes of the interview.

He also admits making a false statement to Chief Supt John Carey when he was investigating the matter for the Garda Complaints Board two years later. He alleges that Det Insp John McGinley told him not to mention phone records and the photograph of Mr Barron to this investigation.

His statement adds: "I categorically deny that I assaulted or laid hands on Róisín McConnell or Katrina Brolly.

"In particular, I deny that I pushed, shouldered, unseated or had any physical contact with Róisín McConnell. I did not break wind in her face. I did not spit at her. I did not push photographs into her face. I did not call her Satan. I deny that I threatened to have Mrs Brolly's mother arrested."

He says Det Supt Joe Shelley and Det Insp McGinley told him they were absolutely satisfied that Frank McBrearty jnr and Mark McConnell were responsible for Mr Barron's death.

Everyone involved in the investigation was convinced of this, and Ms McConnell and Ms Brolly were identified as accessories in the "murder".

"The mood in the Garda station was one of high excitement and anticipation at the prospect of solving the murder. It was made clear to me that my role was to 'break' the persons to be interviewed for the purpose of corroborating the suspicions of An Garda Síochána."

Sgt White says he was in no doubt that the interviews should be of a strident and aggressive nature. "I understood that I was to adopt a hard line in relation to the interrogation. In retrospect, I acknowledge that I approached the task believing Róisín McConnell to be guilty. I now accept this was unfair and improper."

Sgt White says he has always believed that the interview rooms at Letterkenny Garda station are bugged. He also claims he was supplied with the phone records relating to Ms Brolly's husband, Eunan, but was warned not to include them in interview notes because they had been obtained in an unauthorised manner.

He accepts that he put to Ms McConnell "in crude terms" that her husband was having an affair.

"I accept that I asked Mrs McConnell to stand and stop smoking. When she stood up, I skidded the seat upon which she had been seated across the floor of the interview room. I did this in an aggressive fashion.

"I may have used the word 'lying bitch'. This would not [ be] unusual language in an interview situation with an unco-operative and obstructive witness in relation to a serious matter such as the investigation of murder."

He accepts that his conduct fell far short of an acceptable standard and agrees that his treatment of the two "blameless" women was inexcusable. In his statement, he apologises to the women and also apologises for the delay in producing his statement.

Det Sgt White's volte-face follows a similar change of evidence by another of the investigating gardaí, John Dooley, who admitted in a statement to the tribunal last year that Ms McConnell and Ms Brolly had been mistreated.