A Co Donegal woman who was detained in Letterkenny Garda station said yesterday that she thought something had happened to her cousin in another interrogation room after hearing roaring and banging.
Charlotte Peoples from Raphoe said she pleaded with two gardaí who were interrogating her to stop what was happening to Róisín McConnell in the next room. Ms Peoples was arrested on December 4th, 1996, in connection with the death of cattle-dealer Richie Barron. The tribunal has since found Mr Barron died from a hit-and-run.
Ms Peoples said she was detained after her husband, Michael Peoples, was arrested. When she was being interviewed by Det Garda Michael Jennings, retired, and Det Garda Michael Carroll, now a sergeant, she heard roaring and banging from the next room. She knew Ms McConnell was there as she had seen her pass by the open door of her room earlier. She said she heard somebody say "You lying bitch, you lying bastard" and heard a crash.
"I was roaring crying and I pleaded with them to stop as she didn't do anything and I said if you start that with me, you'll be carrying me out in a wooden box," she said. Ms Peoples added that she believed the two gardaí deliberately did nothing.
"They knew what was going on next door and they should've stopped it. I believe I was being used - a form of mental torture with me," she said.
After she was released she fell into a depression and went to a psychiatric unit. She was still under the same doctor 9½ years on.