An arrow on a map used on RTÉ's Crimeline programme "carried with it an innuendo" about a possible escape route which assailants would have used to go from where Raphoe cattle dealer Mr Barron was found to the disco car-park behind the McBrearty family's nightclub, the Morris tribunal heard.
"What business has the arrow doing there?" tribunal chairman Mr Justice Frederick Morris asked witness Supt John J. Fitzgerald, who appeared on the programme.
"Well I don't know," said Supt Fitzgerald. "The whole intention of this was to give people a general idea of the area and to get help."
"Who put the arrow there?" the judge asked.
"Well I didn't put it there and it wasn't put there for any devious reason," replied Supt Fitzgerald.
Mr Frank McBrearty jnr said that apart from the superintendent, the gardaí he knew travelled to Dublin for Crimeline were Garda John O'Dowd, Garda Phil Collins, Det Sgt Sylvie Henry, Insp John McGinley and Garda Tina Fowley. Supt Fitzgerald said that it was possible Sgt Joe Hannigan was also involved.
The chairman said that until he heard other evidence, it was reasonable to assume these were the members who had an input into the map used in the programme.
"The band of merry men went to Dublin to create the map," said Mr McBrearty.
Ms Seán Quinn for the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors said her instructions were that Sgt Henry and Sgt Hannigan were not part of the team that travelled to Dublin for the programme, and did not take part in the construction of the map.
Mr Brian Murphy BL, said that his client, Garda John O'Dowd, would say the gardaí who went to Dublin for the programme were Supt Fitzgerald, Sgt Martin Moylan, Garda O'Dowd, Garda Phil Collins "and perhaps Tina Fowley".
"He had no discussion with the production team at all," Mr Murphy said. His sole function was to answer the phones in the background."