A Co Donegal detective claimed yesterday that Bernard Conlon had destroyed his life and was lying when he made allegations against him.
Det Sgt John White said Mr Conlon had thrown allegation after allegation at him over the years. He said he had a right to defend his name as a citizen of Ireland and for the truth to come out. His comments were made during heated exchanges with Mr Conlon's counsel, Des Dockery, who was cross-examining.
Mr Dockery said Mr Conlon was a slow learner and not educated. He was alone, he was trapped and there was nobody he could speak to about Sgt White. He said Sgt White was the dominant party.
"Are you still, Mr Dockery, flogging this dead horse at this stage?" asked Sgt White.
Counsel put it to him that he was a ruthless man who would go to any lengths now to blacken Mr Conlon and drag him down.
"No, that man is ruthless," Sgt White replied, indicating Mr Conlon.
Mr Dockery put it to him that he was ruthless and that was why he took the "extraordinary step" of going to Clonmel and Trim as a suspended member of the police force to talk to people about Mr Conlon's convictions on the record, going back 25 years in one case. He asked what Sgt White was doing talking to people and taking interviews.
Sgt White said he wanted to prove to the chairman that Mr Conlon was ruthless. Mr Conlon had killed defenceless cattle and showed immense cruelty.
Sgt White said he went to Clonmel to find out about Mr Conlon's past in order to defend himself. "And to show that he had a capability of carrying out crimes on his own and not under somebody's coercion," he added.
Sgt White said that in Clonmel, Mr Conlon had posed as a social welfare officer with the proper paperwork and allegedly continued this for 10 days. He also did the same in Templemore. Mr Conlon also posed as a salesman selling bull semen and had the proper paperwork.
"I'm trying to establish that this man is not the simple person who can be manipulated as has been shown by the Carty [Garda internal investigation] team, chairman. I wanted to clear my name, chairman, and I am entitled to do it," he said.
Mr Dockery put it to him that this was a scurrilous little escapade.
Sgt White replied: "It wasn't a little escapade at all and it was not scurrilous. I've a right to defend my name Mr Dockery - I have that right as a citizen of Ireland."