Morris tribunal:A Tyrone man has told the Morris tribunal that he was contacted by former detective sergeant John White, who had left a message on his mobile phone regarding his appearance at the Morris tribunal.
Edmund Moss (33) said he had come to give evidence at the tribunal of his own free will after being contacted by tribunal administration.
The roofing contractor told how, following an incident in December 1996, he agreed a cash settlement with Frank McBrearty snr, and later appeared as a witness in a criminal prosecution in 1999, where a court acquitted Frank McBrearty jnr and others.
Mr Moss said he felt "compelled" to appear as a witness after Sgt White told him the assault case would go ahead with or without him.
Mr Moss's own barrister, Des Dockery, said: "Why did Sgt White ring your mobile and leave a message the other day about coming here, what did he say?"
"He said that he was doing a favour to the summons server to the tribunal," Mr Moss replied.
"He said it was no skin off his nose whether I attended or not and that he was putting no pressure on me whatsoever to attend, be self-assured about that, was his exact words."
"When he told you you were under no pressure, did that make you feel you were under no pressure or did that in fact make you feel you were under some pressure?" Mr Dockery asked.
"It made me feel I was under pressure," Mr Moss said.
Earlier, Mr Moss said he felt the Garda investigation into an allegation of assault he had made was out of his control and would go ahead although he had reached a private settlement in the case.
Mr Moss had alleged he was assaulted at the nightclub belonging to Mr McBrearty snr on December 30th, 1996.
Mr McBrearty jnr was arrested on February 4th, 1997, and questioned about the allegation, and subsequently acquitted in court.
Mr Moss told the tribunal he had accepted a £10,000 sterling payment from Mr McBrearty snr in January 1997 to drop any claim.