Morris tribunal: About 20 gardaí and some business people from Sligo turned up in court in 2002 to support a garda who was being prosecuted for submitting forged certificates, the Morris tribunal heard yesterday.
Anthony Barr SC, for the tribunal, asked Insp Gerard Connolly, Sligo, what the purpose was of having so many gardaí turn up for the court case of John Nicholson.
"Was it the case that Mr Nicholson was in a very public way taking the rap for the seven certificates, when in fact his involvement, according to his evidence here, was much less than the seven?" he asked.
Insp Connolly replied that at that time, Mr Nicholson's health was very bad.
Mr Barr asked how the presence of gardaí and a number of business people would help his condition.
"I'd say it was a form of support for Mr Nicholson. He was very supportive to everybody over the years - to colleagues and the public in general," Insp Connolly replied.
Mr Nicholson, now retired, pleaded guilty to three charges of uttering, or submitting, forged certificates and received the Probation Act.
The certificates were for expenses for Bernard Conlon, who was claiming loss of earnings for court attendances in Letterkenny where he was a witness in a licensing case against the McBreartys.
Seven certificates were forged by writing out the details with a signature of a purported employer.
Two handwriting experts at the tribunal said on the balance of probability four signatures were forged by Mr Nicholson, while four other people at least were involved in writing out and signing the certificates.
Mr Nicholson has denied signing or writing any part of the certificates.