The former manager of a nightclub at the centre of garda harassment allegations today told a tribunal he was forced to leave work for a time because of it.
John Mitchell, former head barman at Frank McBrearty's club in Raphoe, Co Donegal, told the Morris tribunal he could no longer cope with the pressure.
He said ex-detective sergeant John White unexpectedly came into the nightclub one Saturday night in January 1997 to announce the liquor licensing hours would be strictly enforced.
"He basically said this is the way it's going to be. The bar is going to be closed [after hours]. I'll be here now every weekend," Mr Mitchell said.
Mr Mitchell, who left Mr McBrearty's employment three years ago, said there was a sharp and noted increase in garda inspections of the nightclub as well as checkpoints outside the premises.
He said the clampdown continued for around six months, with gardaí coming into the club every night it was open.
Tribunal barrister Anthony Barr SC asked the former manager about a letter of complaint to the gardaí from Mr McBrearty's solicitor on July 9th, 1998, that said he [Mr Mitchell] had stopped working.
"I stopped for about three or four weeks, I just couldn't take it any more. I couldn't take the pressure, the hassle," he said. "It was just a build-up of pressure from everything, basically, from being harassed."