A detective denied yesterday he pushed a man in the back as he was being released from Letterkenny Garda station after interrogation.
Det Garda Martin Anderson said he had already gone home by the time Damien McDaid was released from custody at 9pm on December 17th, 1996.
Mr McDaid was one of 12 people arrested in connection with the death of cattle dealer Richie Barron, whom gardaí believed was murdered but the tribunal has since found to have been a hit-and-run victim.
Mr McDaid made a number of allegations about his detention including that Det Garda Seán Herraghty, now retired, put a gun in his mouth, stamped on his feet and spat on his breakfast.
Mr Herraghty denied all the allegations at the tribunal on Monday.
Mr McDaid also alleged that another garda pushed him in the back on a corridor in the station when he was being released and gave a description which fitted Garda Anderson.
Garda Anderson said yesterday the incident never happened as he was not present when Mr McDaid was being released. He said he was involved in three interviews with Mr McDaid during that day.
"I wasn't there when he was being released. My duty was finished at 8 o'clock after the interview. I had a quick cup of tea and went home," he said.
The chairman, Mr Justice Frederick Morris, asked if he could have looked at interview notes and the custody record and saw the interview ended at 8pm or was it that he remembered it.
Garda Anderson replied that he remembered doing the interviews that day with Mr McDaid.
The chairman said he must have carried out many interviews, so what made that one stand out that he could so positively say he left at 8pm?
"I suppose because it related to the Barron investigation. I still have a vivid memory of Damien McDaid and his attitude in the interview room," he replied.
Earlier, he said Mr McDaid was being awkward with them and they had to ask a question two or three times before he answered.
Later, Sgt Martin Finan told the tribunal he was dumbfounded when he heard all the allegations made by Mr McDaid.
He said he and another sergeant escorted Mr McDaid to the front office of the Garda station before his release. He said he did not know where Garda Anderson was at the time.