A Co Donegal detective said yesterday he was shocked and knew his career was ruined when he was arrested for getting Bernard Conlon to make false statements.
Det Sgt John White denies the allegations and was acquitted earlier this year in Letterkenny Circuit Court of perverting the course of justice and making false statements.
Det Sgt White said he was arrested on March 21st, 2000, outside Letterkenny Garda station in a "rough and abrupt" manner by a member of the Carty internal Garda investigation team.
He said the thought of being arrested never crossed his mind. He was arrested for procuring Mr Conlon to make false statements between July 1st and July 21st 1998. Obviously they believed he had set up Mr Conlon to make up "these bad things and malicious reports, statements", he said.
Chairman Mr Justice Frederick Morris asked if he inquired about the reason for his arrest. Det Sgt White said he did not. A member of the Carty team, Det Insp Tadgh Foley, opened the door of his car when he arrived at the Garda station.
Mr Justice Morris said it was extraordinary that the Carty team came along out of the blue to say he put Mr Conlon up to it.
"It happened so fast, he'd his hand on my shoulder as I stepped out of the car," Det Sgt White said. "From the look on Det Insp Foley's face, I knew I was in serious bother at this stage. It happened in the space of three or four seconds. He rattled off what he was arresting me for. The rest was over within five seconds of me coming out of the car."
Det Insp Foley told him to get into the station, he said.
"It was abrupt and rough. As we walked forward I said at least take me to another Garda station. He said 'Get up those steps and go into the station'. There was aggression in his voice. There were four or five of them walking around, and I was so shocked I couldn't even think."
He knew he was being arrested for procuring Mr Conlon to make false statements. "I didn't say a word. I was shocked. I knew this was serious, that my career was ruined," Det Sgt White said. He was shocked, afraid and unable to think, and the whole thing took place in a matter of seconds.
Going into the station that night he had been totally at his ease. "I was deeply shocked when Tadgh Foley approached me outside the gate, very, very much so. I had no idea in the world that this could ever happen," he said.
Tribunal lawyer Paul McDermott SC said that when Det Sgt White was interviewed by the Carty team a couple of days before, he did not reply to questions, only vehemently denied any allegations.
Det Sgt White said his solicitor advised him not to answer questions.