Tribunal to rule on costs today

The Morris tribunal will today give a ruling on costs for the first module.

The Morris tribunal will today give a ruling on costs for the first module.

In his first interim report last July, the chairman found that two Donegal gardaí had planned bogus explosives finds in order to further their careers.

The report by former High Court president Mr Justice Frederick Morris led to the resignation of two senior gardaí, Chief Supt Denis Fitzpatrick, the former head of the Donegal division, and Supt John O'Connor, who headed the Buncrana district during the mid-1990s.

Det Garda Noel McMahon also resigned from An Garda Síochána in July.

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Supt Kevin Lennon, who along with Garda McMahon was found to have corruptly organised explosives finds in Donegal in the years leading up to the 1994 IRA ceasefire, remains a member of the force. His future will be discussed at a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday.

In total, 17 serving and former gardaí were criticised in the Morris report for obstructing the tribunal, lying, and for negligence in their duties.

Since completing the first module, the tribunal has turned its attention to the events surrounding the death of Raphoe cattle dealer Mr Richie Barron in October 1996.

Following Mr Barron's death, which was initially thought to be a hit-and-run, gardaí launched a murder investigation in which Mr Frank McBrearty jnr and his cousin, Mr Mark McConnell, became suspects.

Complaints of Garda harassment led to an internal Garda inquiry headed by assistant Garda Commissioner Mr Kevin Carty, and eventually to the Morris tribunal.