The Garda superintendent sacked yesterday by the Government following the publication of the Morris report into hoax explosives finds in Donegal was speaking at the continuing tribunal hearings yesterday.
Ex-Supt Kevin Lennon represents himself at the tribunal and he put it to one Garda witness that when the case against the McBrearty family collapsed, blame was cast in his direction."Blame was apportioned to me without any knowledge or any grounds," said Supt Kevin Lennon.
"My evidence is to the contrary - definitely not," said Det Sgt Hugh Smith, who was being cross-examined by Supt Lennon. "Supt Lennon's name never came into that equation."
Ex- Supt Lennon asked the sergeant if he accepted he had carried out a legitimate investigation as best he could into the death of cattle dealer Richie Barron in 1996. "Oh, yes, I accept that. You took on a new team and went over all the material," Det Sgt Smith replied.
The detective said Raphoe garda John O'Dowd might have got "too close" to an informer, Mr William Doherty.
Sgt Smith said Garda O'Dowd was considered "one of the avenues" by which Mr Doherty could have got information on the Barron case.
Another man, Mr Noel McBride, said Mr Doherty gave him information to put in a statement about events on the night Mr Barron died.
"I don't think Noel McBride is the kind of person who could come up with the story on his own," Det Sgt Smith said. "Doherty would be cute enough to ask him \ how the Barron investigation was going, and he might have said something inadvertently."
However, he added: "I have known John O'Dowd for years, and I have always found him to be honest and honourable."
The detective said Mr McBride, a key witness against the McBrearty family, withdrew his statements in September 1997 and said Mr Doherty had put him under "severe pressure" to make allegations that he had been threatened and offered bribes by Raphoe nightclub owner Mr Frank McBrearty snr.
The detective told the tribunal he felt his duty was "to establish the truth, to see who was guiding McBride".
In September 1997, the sergeant and other detectives went to see Mr McBride and told him he needed to see a bike he claimed Mr McBrearty gave him.
As they were leaving, Mr McBride called them back. "He got very tense. He said he was under severe pressure," Det Sgt Smith said.
"Eventually he said William Doherty was putting him under severe pressure, and that everything he had told the guards was lies." Det Sgt Smith said he "knew Doherty to be very cute and cunning, a quick thinker. McBride would be the opposite".