The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform Michael McDowell is to seek further direction from the High Court on the publication of certain parts of the Morris Tribunal, following this afternoon's acquittal of Detective Sergeant John White.
Mr McDowell had feared that the reports could prejudice Mr White's trial and on May 23rd the High Court ordered that their publication be prohibited "until further Order of the Court directs".
As Mr White was today acquitted of planting a shotgun at a Traveller encampment in Donegal, the Minister is now requesting that the three sections be published and put "before both Houses of the Oireachtas as soon as possible."
The three sections in question are:
- the circumstances surrounding the arrest and detention of Mark McConnell on October 1st, 1998 and Michael Peoples on May 6th, 1999
- allegations relating to the Garda investigation of an arson attack on property situated on the site of the telecommunications mast at Ardara, County Donegal in October/November 1996
- the circumstances surrounding the arrest and detention of seven persons at Burnfoot, County Donegal on 23rd May, 1998 and the investigation relating thereto.
Mr McConnell and Mr Peoples were two of 12 people wrongfully arrested in connection with the death of cattle-dealer Richie Barron, whom gardaí believed had been murdered.
The tribunal found that Mr Barron was a hit-and-run victim.
The publication of the reports is also subject to the approval of the Attorney General and Director of Public Prosecutions.