Publican tells of 'unbearable fear' after death arrest probe
A publican lived in unbearable fear after his wrongful arrest in connection to the death of a Donegal cattle dealer, the Morris Tribunal today heard.
Mark Quinn claimed he was called a ’murdering bastard’ by a detective garda investigating the suspected murder of Richie Barron, was manhandled during his arrest and pulled over a table and shown bullets and a gun.
He also claims graphic post mortem pictures of Mr Barron’s body were pushed in his face, and when given chicken to eat while in custody was told to think about the ’white brains’ in the photographs.
The allegations were denied by Pat Marrinan, senior counsel for An Garda Siochana, who accused Mr Quinn of making them up so he could sue the state for loss of business.
The tribunal is examining claims gardaí in Letterkenny Garda Station interrogated and intimidated 12 people, including many of Mr Quinn’s relations, during the botched probe in 1996. Although the killing remains a mystery, it has since been accepted Mr Barron died in a hit-and-run.
Mr Quinn owned the Town and Country pub in Raphoe where gardai claim Mr Barron and Mark McConnell had a vicious row on October 13, 1996. Mr Barron’s body was found in the early hours the following morning.
On December 4, Mr Quinn says he was stopped by a patrol car, dragged from the vehicle, pushed on to the bonnet of his car and arrested on the roadside.
Accused of covering up for Mr McConnell, Mr Quinn was taken to Letterkenny garda station where he claims during interviews up to six uniformed officers remained in the room, shouting at him, thumping and banging the table and pushing post mortem photographs across the table and in his face.
He said former Garda John O’Dowd grabbed him while apparently reaching for his baton and Detective Garda PJ Keating pulled him across the table shouting ’tell us what you know you murdering bastard.’
He said Keating had bullets in his other hand while a uniformed garda put a gun on the table, pointing it in his direction.
“I felt very afraid and very agitated,” said Mr Quinn. “He called me a murdering bastard and wanted me to tell him what I knew. I kept telling him I don’t know anything.
“I didn’t know what they were going to do. I did feel threatened. I thought they were trying to put some fear in me.”
Det Gda Keating denies all the allegations. Mr O’Dowd admitted there were post mortem pictures in the room, but that he was not responsible for showing them.
Mr Quinn said he was too frightened to make any complaints against officers at the time because he didn’t want to loose his pub licence as he had a mortgage, wife and two young children to support. He admitted signing statements declaring he hadn’t been intimidated in custody so he could get out of the station.
Accusations by Mr Quinn that gardaí harassed him following his release will be heard in a later module.
“After my arrest the fear I was living under was unbearable,” he said. “Business just seemed to get very quiet after it was common knowledge I was arrested. It didn’t go too well to tell you the truth. I hit the bottle a lot harder. I really didn’t want to see people or talk to people.”
