Morris tribunal: A tribunal witness said yesterday he was afraid of Det Sgt John White from Co Donegal and carried out his instructions to make false statements.
Bernard Conlon has alleged he he was told to make up statements by Sgt White to set up the McBreartys. He described Sgt White as very contrary and said: "I was afraid of the man."
To Mr Justice Frederick Morris, he said: "Chairman, I done it on the terms of Sgt White and I feel now I was a real fool, an eejit, to get meself tied up in so much anger and trouble and I just went along with the man."
Mr Conlon has alleged he was told by Sgt White to get caught late-night drinking in Frankie's nightclub in Raphoe owned by the McBreartys and to be a State witness. He also claims Sgt White told him to say that two members of the extended McBrearty family, Mark McConnell and Michael Peoples, had threatened him at his home in Sligo in July 1998 over the court case.
The McBreartys were suspected of being involved in the death in Raphoe in 1996 of cattle dealer Richie Barron which the tribunal has since held was a hit-and-run and had nothing to do with them. Sgt White denies all allegations.
Mr Conlon told Sgt White's lawyer, John Whelan SC, that he was under pressure from him and was getting a bit of money from him as well. When asked what pressure, Mr Conlon replied: "If I didn't carry out those instructions, what he'd do to me."
Asked if he was saying Sgt White threatened him, Mr Conlon said he never said that but it was what the garda could do to him. Mr Whelan said: "You gave the impression a few minutes ago that you were afraid of him." Mr Conlon replied: "I was afraid of the man."
Mr Whelan referred to a note taken by a garda at a district court hearing in 2005 in which Sgt White was acquitted of making false statements. They had received a letter saying it could not be produced at the tribunal as the Garda Commissioner had not approved it, counsel said.