A woman had been warned by Mr Justice Morris that there are "significant legal consequences" in refusing to answer questions put by the Morris Tribunal.
Mrs Mary McGranaghan from Raphoe was being cross-examined at the tribunal in Donegal town yesterday. She was asked how she came to change a statement she made to gardaí that she had seen Mr Mark McConnell and Mr Eamonn Meehan on the night Raphoe cattle dealer Mr Richie Barron died. On 15th January 1997, Mrs McGranaghan made a second statement saying she was mistaken in her first statement of 8th November 1996, and that she had in fact seen Mr Michael Peoples with Mr McConnell.
Mr Justice Morris intervened in the cross-examination, saying: "If this is the level of co-operation the tribunal is to expect from the people of Raphoe then it's going to be a very long and difficult hearing."
He continued: "We have spent the last two and a quarter hours trying to coax you to tell us information that I am certain is within your knowledge, and you are withholding it in my belief, that has significant legal consequences for you and I have no doubt you are aware of those consequences."
Judge Morris said he was "convinced" that she could be of more help to the tribunal. "I must now ask you to answer those questions. I will not accept words like 'I'm not sure'. You must tell us to the best of your ability. You're obviously a highly intelligent lady. Now please answer counsel's questions."
"Nobody prompted me or tempted me or anything else," Mrs McGranaghan said, denying she had been told to say she saw Mr Peoples in Raphoe.
At lunchtime yesterday, Justice Morris told Mrs McGranaghan that she would be recalled at a later date, as she had to leave to travel to Belfast.
Earlier, Mrs McGranaghan told the tribunal she changed her statement to the Carty inquiry members because a garda became "very aggressive" . She said: "The guard became very aggressive, I was very upset, I was crying and I signed it. I felt I was being intimidated, put on a spot."
In her statement to the Carty inquiry team, Mrs McGranaghan said she had changed her identification of Mr Eamonn Meehan because a garda had told her Mr Meehan was not in Raphoe at the time.
The tribunal has been sitting in Donegal town this week conducting hearings into the investigation of Mr Barron's death in Raphoe in October 1996.The tribunal resumes today.