Morris Tribunal told of alleged calls
The Morris Tribunal, set up to investigate allegations of misconduct by certain members of the Gardaí in Donegal, has this morning heard details of alleged extortion and hoax telephone calls made to the home of a Raphoe family following the death of local cattle dealer Richie Barron.
It was claimed this morning that one such call to the home of Michael and Charlotte Peoples was made from a Garda's private residence.
As he continued his opening statement, senior counsel for the Tribunal, Peter Charleston, told the Tribunal that Michael and Charlotte Peoples complained of receiving a number of anonymous extortion and hoax telephone calls to their home on the night of November 9, 1996.
In these calls, they complained that the caller demanded a cash payment amid certain threats if such a payment were not forthcoming.
Telephone records show that one call was made from the home of Garda John O'Dowd to the Peoples on that date at 10.06pm lasting 35 seconds.
In his statement, Garda O'Dowd denied making the call and suggested it may have been made by a Tommy Doherty, who is since deceased.
It later emerged that entries to the station's diary were also altered.
The Tribunal continues.
