The events leading up to the mysterious death of a Co Donegal cattle dealer six years ago were recalled at a coroner's inquest in Letterkenny yesterday.
The death of Mr Richard Barron (54) in the early hours of October 14th, 1996, is at the centre of the biggest Garda investigation in the history of the State.
Mr Barron's death was initially treated as a hit-and-run car accident but subsequently became a murder inquiry.
Members of a local family, the McBrearty family, were arrested but never charged.
Mr Frank McBrearty snr, a Raphoe publican and businessman, has claimed some gardaí tried to frame him and members of his family for Mr Barron's murder.
At yesterday's hearing, lengthy legal submissions were made on behalf of Mr Barron's family and legal representatives for three members of the McBrearty family summoned to appear at the inquest.
Mr Donagh McDonagh SC, for the Barron family, requested an adjournment to allow him time to read some 80 witness statements submitted to the inquest.
Mr Martin Giblin SC for the McBreartys, requested sight of statements from his clients.
The coroner, Mr John Cannon, pointed out that under inquest rules, statements could not be given to counsel prior to the opening of an inquest. He granted Mr McDonagh and Mr Giblin sight of the witness statements and allowed an adjournment until September 23th.
He advised Mr McDonagh that if he intended to have a further autopsy carried out on retained body parts of the late Mr Barron, facilities would be made available through Prof John Harbison's office. Prof Harbison, the State pathologist, was in court but was not called.
Mr Hugh Mohan SC, for the State, told Mr McDonagh that statements 39 and 40 had not been furnished to him. These statements were from two gardaí and Mr Mohan said the State would not be looking to rely on these two statements.
"The State is not putting forward depositions on behalf of those gardaí and are not in a position to rely on those depositions," Mr Mohan added.
Mr Giblin said he could not understand why Mr Frank McBrearty jnr, Mr Richard McBrearty and Mr Mark McConnell had been summoned to the inquest. "My clients have no idea why they are being called to the inquest and I have no idea. As a matter of basic fairness we should be put in a position where we can tell our clients what will be said at the inquest."
The late Mr Barron's son, Stephen, was the first person to take the stand. He gave his statement to the inquest on his last sighting of his father at 6 p.m. on October 13th, 1996.
"On Sunday, October 13th, 1996, I went next door to the home place and my father let me in. He was in good form and we talked about the mart. I thought he was not going out. At 1 a.m. the telephone rang. It was from one of the McBrides of Town Park, and they said my father was lying on the ground.
"I saw my father lying flat out; there was no one beside him. I went to lift him and saw blood on the road beside him. I tried for a pulse and I put my finger in his mouth to let air in; his teeth were broken."
Mr Barron then described identifying his father's body at Letterkenny General Hospital with Garda B. Mulligan.
A Dr Zuherry, now resident in Scotland, detailed how he pronounced Mr Barron dead at Letterkenny General Hospital on October 14th, 1996, at 2.10 a.m. He described blood coming from the deceased's ears and mouth and injuries to the skull base and frontal area.
He said he also noticed a smell of alcohol. Statements from some local people were read to the inquest detailing seeing Mr Barron between 6 p.m. and 1 a.m. at various public houses in Raphoe.