A Donegal detective has claimed a proper investigation into corruption allegations was never carried out because of a "malicious agenda" against him by certain members of the Garda Síochána.
Det Sgt John White yesterday completed his evidence after 11 days in the witness box. He denied allegations that he procured Bernard Conlon to make false statements. He said he and his family had been grievously hurt by the false allegations, which had ruined his career.
Mr Conlon alleged Det Sgt White told him to be found drinking after hours in a nightclub in Raphoe, owned by the McBreartys, to set them up.
He also alleged Det Sgt White put him up to making a false statement that two men called to his home and threatened him with a "silver bullet". Mr Conlon later falsely identified two members of the extended McBrearty family.
Det Sgt White was arrested by the Carty internal Garda investigation team in March 2000 after Mr Conlon's allegations. Earlier this year he was acquitted in Letterkenny Circuit Court of perverting the course of justice and making false statements.
Yesterday the detective said: "I've been grievously hurt by the false and malicious allegations made against me by Bernard Conlon. My family and myself have suffered to a great extent as a result of these allegations over the past 5½ years.
"My career has been ruined. I've been isolated by my comrades. I've been shunned by certain persons in the community, as indeed have my wife and children."
Det Sgt White said he was satisfied that a proper investigation had not been carried out into the serious allegations made against him by Mr Conlon. He believed he was entitled to expect that a full and proper Garda investigation would be carried out.
"It is my belief that the failure to carry out a fair and proper investigation was not as a result of mere laziness or negligence but because of the malicious agenda against me by certain members of An Garda Síochána."
He hoped this module of the tribunal would finalise the matter and he could resume as normal a life as possible with his family.
"This is the last time, hopefully, I'll be dealing with the Bernard Conlon case. It has consumed my life for 5½ years. It has kept me away from my family and I have not given proper attention to my family at different times, and it has been the subject of the advice of the medical profession to me," he said. "I'm consumed by it, I can't help that. I just want it to go away, I want to finish with it."
Det Sgt White said being arrested was humiliating. "I was under the impression that being faced with the rigours of a public trial in front of a judge and jury and found innocent that I was entitled to a badge of innocence in relation to this matter."
However, he said, any such relief was shattered when Assistant Garda Commissioner Kevin Carty came before the tribunal and turned the whole thing around on him. Det Sgt White said he was extremely concerned about the assertions Mr Carty made about him after his trial, that is, that he still believed Mr Conlon was telling the truth.
"I would like it to be withdrawn. If it could be withdrawn, I'd be happy with that."