Retired garda alleges conspiracy over 'murder confession'
A retired garda detective accused of securing a false murder confession from publican Frank McBrearty Junior today alleged there was a conspiracy against him.
Suggesting he was the victim, John Fitzpatrick claimed a story had been concocted by Mr McBrearty Jnr about gardaí mistreatment after he had admitted to killing cattle dealer Richie Barron.
There is a confession in garda records, but Mr McBrearty Jnr insists he has no idea where it came from.
He was among 12 people, some related to him, brought in for questioning by gardaí during the botched Barron murder investigation.
All of them have alleged physical, verbal or mental abuse.
At the Morris Tribunal, Mr Fitzpatrick denied ever showing Mr McBrearty Jnr graphic autopsy pictures of Mr Barron’s body.
He claimed Mr McBrearty Jnr had not seen them until he was sitting in the witness box at the inquiry.
“My theory is that he had been told about the photographs, but he had not actually seen them, so it was a question of asking the chairman if you could show him the photographs and him saying yes that’s it,” he said.
“I can tell you straight up we wouldn’t do that. I have never shown photographs to anybody.”
Mr McBrearty was arrested the same day as his cousin’s wife, Roisin McConnell, and the pair were released within hours of each other. A number of gardaí have already admitted at the tribunal showing her the horrific autopsy pictures while she was in custody. The day after Mr McBrearty Jnr was released he went to his solicitor and gave a graphic description of the photos.
Mr Fitzpatrick was asked by tribunal lawyers if he believed Mrs McConnell had told Mr McBrearty about the photos and was part of a conspiracy.
“Yes that is correct, yes,” the former garda said.
Mr Fitzpatrick said when Mr McBrearty Jnr left the station he was agitated claiming: “He said he was going to get them back, get them all back. All I can say is that at no stage did I assault him or show him photographs.
“I had to listen to this through the press,” he added. The garda corruption inquiry is currently investigating the arrest and detention of 12 people during the botched Barron death probe.
