Claims by a Donegal publican, Frank McBrearty, that three senior Gardaí conspired in a campaign to damage him and his family have been denied in the High Court. Patrick McEntee, Senior Counsel for the Garda Commissioner, said that the specific allegations made against the three officers would be denied and dealt with in forthcoming High Court proceedings.
Mr McBrearty had claimed he and his family were harassed by Gardaí over several years after the death of a local man Richie Barron in 1996. Mr McBrearty's son and nephew became the focus of the murder investigation.
In High Court proceedings last month, Chief Superintendent Denis Fitzpatrick, Superintendent Joseph Shelly and Detective Superintendent John McGinley were accused by him of being the leading conspirators in a campaign to damage the McBrearty family.
Today in the High Court counsel for the Gardaí said that the specific allegations against the three officers would be denied. Patrick McEntee said these allegations would be dealt with in proceedings by Mr McBrearty in the High Court.
Mr McEntee also told the court that Chief Superintendent Walter Rice, of Letterkenny, had said that he had taken steps to ensure that a document circulated in the Letterkenny division garda station relating to the McBrearty family was withdrawn.
At an earlier court hearing, Mr McBrearty claimed the circular required Gardaí to report on his activities and those of his extended family and contacts.
