Former garda chief 'sceptical' of informer's claims BreakingNews.ie_2828

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The former head of the Donegal garda division said he was “sceptical” that an unreliable informer had been tortured by the IRA, the Morris Tribunal heard today.
William Doherty, whose information once sparked a fruitless three-day arms search, claimed to Raphoe garda John O’Dowd that the Provos had pulled out his back teeth and set his genitals on fire for informing on their activities.
But tribunal witness, retired chief supt Denis Fitzpatrick, said the IRA normally killed informers after they had tortured them.
Tribunal counsel Anthony Barr, SC asked the senior officer if Doherty’s molar teeth had been pulled out by the IRA “or by a dentist in the course of normal dental work”.
“I don’t know whether there was teeth missing or not. I didn’t inquire,You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login,” replied chief supt Fitzpatrick.
“I’d be sceptical. I don’t think the IRA would pull out your teeth. They’d shoot you.”
“Would they burn someone in the genitals?” asked Mr Barr,You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login, SC.
“I know that they have tortured people in the past. When they did, they usually killed a person,You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login,” added the witness.
Chief supt Fitzpatrick retired early from the Garda Siochana last September after he was accused of “gross negligence” in the Morris Tribunal’s interim report on its explosives module.
Day 269 of the tribunal is currently hearing evidence on the garda investigation into the hit-and-run death of cattle dealer Richie Barron in October 1996.
Earlier,You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login, chief supt Fitzpatrick denied today that he ordered extra court summonses to be issued to put pressure on a Raphoe family during the garda investigation.
The extended McBrearty family received more than 100 separate summonses over a short period in 1997, mostly related to alleged breaches of licensing laws at their pub and nightclub.
Several members of the family had earlier been arrested during the murder investigation of Barron.
Chief supt Fitzpatrick refuted claims that he told local garda John O’Dowd to “give them plenty of paper out there”.
The tribunal heard this reference was taken to mean issues summonses in order to put pressure on the McBrearty family in Raphoe.
Chief supt Fitzpatrick said today: “That’s ridiculous. That never happened.”
These claims were made in earlier evidence by Garda O’Dowd.
The retired officer, who served for over 32 years in the force, said it was “most unusual” that Garda O’Dowd taped a conversation with him without his knowledge in June 1997.
Speaking of he tape, which was played in court, the witness said: “I’ve never seen it happen before.”
The witness had also denied to Tribunal chairman, Judge Frederick Morris that he tried to "offload" informer Doherty to a another senior officer, detective inspector John McGinley.
Doherty had just given information which led to a massive three-day search on a local farm for explosives, but none were found.
Speaking about Det Insp McGinley’s reaction when asked to supervise Doherty, the witness said: “There was still a bit of friction in the air between (Supt Kevin) Lennon and McGinley on that search.
“It was a blunt ’No’. He didn’t give any reason. He just said ’No’.”
Former garda chief 'sceptical' of informer's claims You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login