Electrician 'told PI of Garda abuse'
A father-of-six gave a detailed account of his ill treatment in custody to a private investigator just seven months after his arrest, it emerged today.
Sean Crossan listed a catalogue of abuse and intimidation to the investigator, slamming allegations by Garda legal teams that he fabricated the stories some years later.
The electrician told the Morris Tribunal he was assaulted, shown graphic post-mortem photographs, had his mouth spat in, and was shouted and sworn at by gardaí during his 12-hour detention in Letterkenny Garda Station in December 1996.
He has also accused officers of threatening him with 10 years in jail for perjury, that his children – aged from one to 13 years – would be lifted by social services and that his car and dole would be confiscated unless he changed a statement.
He previously told the tribunal he asked for a doctor four times while in custody but was only brought some painkillers.
The gardaí deny all the allegations, highlighting how Mr Crossan failed to mention any abuse in custody when he approached the Garda Complaints Board two years later.
But details of an interview between Mr Crossan and an independent investigator in July 1997 were disclosed by Peter Charleton, senior counsel for the tribunal.
A note from Mr Crossan’s family doctor, who has since died, also detailed how he had superficial lacerations to skin above his right ear the day after his release.
Mr Crossan alleges Detective Sergeant John White stuck his fingers in his eye and ear, twisting them and cutting him, punched him in the chest and genital area and spat in his face and mouth, while Detective Sergeant Sylvester Henry showed him graphic autopsy images of Mr Barron’s head injuries.
Sean Quinn, senior counsel for AGSI, accused Mr Crossan of making a false statement to back up Frank McBrearty Snr – a good friend and employer – because he had six mouths to feed.
She also questioned how and why, if left traumatised from seeing the autopsy images, Mr Crossan shook hands with Det. Sgt Henry following yesterday’s sitting.
“I don’t hold no grudges,” replied Mr Crossan. “I don’t hold grudges against anybody. Anybody in Raphoe will tell you that.”
The 57-year-old was detained by gardaí investigating the death of hit-and-run victim Richie Barron, who they wrongly believed had been murdered.
Mr Crossan, a part-time doorman at McBrearty’s nightclub, was arrested as an accessory after the death. Gardaí accused him of seeing prime suspects Frank McBrearty Jnr and Mark McConnell in the club car park covered in blood shortly after the alleged attack.
Mr Crossan initially told gardaí he saw no-one, but weeks later said he remembered seeing three clean, well-dressed young men there who were not known to him.
“You have lied about the treatment you received,” continued Ms Quinn. “You’re used to lying. You were lying to the social welfare for years and then to the gardaí, then changed your statement. No-one else has ever seen these three men.”
Mr Crossan admitted knowing Mr McBrearty Snr well, but denied lying for his son Frank Jnr or receiving IR£500 to change a statement. He said following the threats against his family, he too withdrew all his statements.
The Morris Tribunal is investigating claims some 12 people – many related to the McBrearty family – were interrogated, intimidated or abused during the botched investigation.
