The Chief Superintendent of the Donegal Division has welcomed the establishment of a tribunal of inquiry into allegations against members of the force in the county, saying she believed it would "establish clarity".
Chief Supt Catherine Clancy, who was appointed to head the division shortly before Christ- mas, said it was a welcome development for gardaí trying to deliver a good service in the midst of negative publicity.
"The fact that clarity will be established is a good thing for all the gardaí in Co Donegal," she said. "The Garda Síochána will be more than happy to co-oper- ate with the tribunal in any way that we are required to do."
A representative of the McBrearty legal team said he welcomed the appointment of Mr Justice Freddie Morris to chair the tribunal. "At last this is a first step towards finality," he said.
He believed it was appropriate that Mr Justice Morris should set the terms of reference of the inquiry and that they would welcome the opportunity to make a submission to him on what these should be.
"It would be unwise for the State or anybody else to set the terms of reference if we want an open, just and independent inquiry," he said.
The McBrearty legal team also welcomed the fact that Mr Justice Morris will be given powers to bring in investigators from outside the jurisdiction if he believes there is a need for this.