Donegal publican Frank McBrearty jnr today said his name had been blackened again after he was refused entry to the US over a wrongful assault charge.
Mr McBrearty, who was framed for a murder that never was and recently received a settlement of €1.5 million from the State for his treatment by gardaí, was attempting to fly to Chicago today with his wife and children.
He said he had been asked at Dublin airport's US immigration desk if he had ever been arrested and had answered truthfully, explaining about the findings of the Morris tribunal and his compensation claim.
Mr McBrearty was wrongfully arrested during a botched Garda murder inquiry and was subjected to harassment by gardaí and neighbours, the Morris tribunal ruled.
But although he told the immigration officer he could check the story with the Irish authorities, Mr McBrearty was still not allowed to fly to the United States.
"He came back from the Irish authorities and told me I was being refused entry to the US because I had been charged with assault - but I was acquitted.
"I received compensation for malicious prosecution and that assault was part of that malicious prosecution," Mr McBrearty said. "Now I have been blackened once again by the Garda Síochána."
Mr McBrearty said his name was still on the Pulse system, which the gardaí use to record offences, despite his acquittal and compensation payment.
"I've told my lawyers to take action against the State for the humiliation caused to me and my family here today at Dublin airport. I will be demanding the High Court judges, or the Supreme Court if necessary, to have my name taken completely off the Pulse system," he said.
Mr McBrearty said he and his family were very upset about being turned back at Dublin airport. "I'll probably never be allowed into the US now."