Morris tribunal: The Morris tribunal has heard evidence from several witnesses that Mr Mark McConnell, who was accused of the murder of the Raphoe cattle-dealer, Mr Richie Barron, was still in a pub in the town at the time Mr Barron died.
Mr Barron was found lying by the roadside at 12.55 a.m. in the early hours of October 14th, 1996. Mr McConnell and his cousin, Mr Frank McBrearty jnr, became the central suspects in subsequent Garda investigations.
Mr Martin Quigley, a barman in the Town & Country pub, said he initially told gardaí he left the pub at 12.30 a.m. because he did not want his employer to get into trouble for "keeping a late house".
Mr Pat Marrinan asked why then he had said in his initial statement that there was an argument between Mr Barron and Mr McConnell between 11.15 p.m. and 11.30 p.m., also after closing time.
"I didn't think the argument was after closing time," Mr Quigley told Mr Marrinan, who represents the Garda Commissioner. Mr Quigley said he had been told by the private investigator that other people's statements contradicted what he had originally told gardaí.
It was "utter nonsense" to suggest he had changed his statement to protect people who were in the pub, Mr Quigley told Mr Tom Creed SC, who represents Garda John O'Dowd and Garda Padraig Mulligan. "I am not involved in a cover-up," Mr Quigley said.
Earlier, Ms Carmel Connolly told the tribunal she was working in Sara's Café. Mr Mark McConnell came into the café at some point after midnight and ordered a chicken curry, which he said he would collect later. Ms Connolly said this was after midnight.
Ms Connolly told Sgt Hannigan she could not remember what time Mr Connolly came in, and she could not explain why Sgt Hannigan recorded her saying Mr McConnell came in at 12.20 a.m.
The tribunal, chaired by the former president of the High Court, Mr Justice Morris, is investigating the circumstances of the death of Mr Barron.