A female garda who was suspended for the last three years is to be allowed to return to duty, it emerged tonight.
Garda Tina Fowley was suspended from the Donegal Garda Division in 2002 after Frank Shortt, a Donegal nightclub owner, was found to have been the victim of a miscarriage of justice.
She was one of the gardaí who was involved in the investigation which led to Mr Shortt being wrongly convicted of allowing drugs to be sold on his premises.
A Garda spokesman said her suspension had been lifted at midnight last night. However, it is not known where Ms Fowley will resume her duties.
She failed to have her suspension lifted in the High Court in 2002.
Ms Foley is a key figure in the Morris Tribunal, which is investigating corruption among gardai in the Donegal Division. She has alleged that she saw Inspector John McGinley practising the signature of Frank McBrearty Jnr while he was being held in connection with the death of cattle dealer Richie Barron on December 4 1996.
Inspector McGinley, who was later promoted to Superintendent, has denied the allegation. He is to retire early from the force this month after being criticised in the Morris Tribunal's second report for his role in the Barron investigation.
Ms Fowley also alleged that officers bullied and harassed her, forcing her to take two years sick leave in the late 1990s.