A GARDA yesterday denied altering the custody record to make it appear that a Garda interview with a publican charged with murdering his wife and a toddler ended before midnight.
Sergeant Patrick Madigan also denied that Mr Francis McCann (36) had called him in to the interview room to point out that a watch worn by one of the Garda interviewers showed the time at 12.20 a.m.
He said he had seen Mr McCann at 11.58 p.m. on November 4th and Mr McCann was placed in his cell.
Sgt Madigan was testifying on the 35th day of the trial at the Central Criminal Court of Mr McCann who has denied the murders of his wife Esther (36) and an 18 month old baby, Jessica, at the family home at Butterfield Avenue, Rathfarnham, Dublin on September 4th, 1992.
In court yesterday, Sgt Madigan told Mr Tom O'Connell BL, prosecuting, that he was on duty as member in charge at Tallaght Garda Station for periods on November 4th and 5th, 1992, while Mr McCann was in custody there.
He visited Mr McCann at 11.58 p.m. on November 5th and said Mr McCann made no complaints and was placed in a cell.
Cross examined by Mr White he denied he had visited Mr McCann at 12.20 a.m. and not 11.58 pm.
He denied that Mr McCann had insisted the member in charge be brought in because a Garda interviewer's watch showed 12.20 a.m. He denied making "a song and dance" insisting his watch showed 11.58 p.m. and denied falsifying the custody record.
The trial continues on Monday before Mr Justice Carney and the jury.