Mr James Gogarty made no apology to a garda whom he had accused of corruption. The accusation had no foundation or truth, the tribunal was told yesterday.
Mr Garrett Cooney SC, for the Murphy group, cross-examining Det Insp Gerard Harrington, said what was alleged by Mr Gogarty about the investigating officer was most serious.
"Do you know if Mr Gogarty made any attempt before this tribunal sat to apologise to the investigating officer for the allegations which he [Mr Gogarty] now accepts were untrue?" Mr Cooney asked. Det Insp Harrington replied: "As far as I am aware, he did not."
Mr Cooney asked if Mr Gogarty got in touch with any of the investigating officer's superior officers to say the allegations which he made two years previously were without foundation and that he regretted the damage he may have caused to the investigating officer's reputation. Det Insp Harrington said: "To my knowledge, no, Mr Chairman."
The chairman later said he had stated previously that the officer concerned acted in a proper manner. Mr Gogarty withdrew the allegation himself.
Mr Cooney asked if when they interviewed Mr Gogarty three times in 1997, apart from making the allegations and repeating them, he never gave evidence to substantiate them. Det Insp Harrington said that was correct.
Mr Cooney said he was referred to Mr Gogarty's solicitor outside the jurisdiction. Mr Cooney asked: "Did you ever get any details of these alleged acts of corruption on the part of this investigating officer from this lawyer who had been retained by Mr Gogarty?" Det Insp Harrington said he did not.
Mr Cooney said his investigation concluded by interviewing the investigating officer himself. Det Insp Harrington said that was correct. Det Insp Harrington then completed a detailed report for submission to the superintendent in Raheny and then it would be transferred to the chief superintendent at Santry. It was dated October 7th or 8th, 1997.
Mr Cooney said the report had the results of his investigation and he also prepared a tribunal statement. In both, Det Insp Harrington reported Mr Gogarty as stating at a meeting with gardai on February 22nd, 1997, that he [Mr Gogarty] himself had given £30,000 to Mr Ray Burke.