Former minister for justice John O'Donoghue today told the Morris tribunal he was highly sceptical and suspicious of allegations of Garda corruption in Donegal brought to his attention by two Opposition politicians.
Giving evidence at the inquiry, Mr O'Donoghue said he took the information straight to the Garda Commissioner for fear there was any truth in the accusations.
Mr O'Donoghue, now Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, said it was his intention at all times to ensure justice was done.
The damning allegations of high level corruption within the force were handed to the minister in June 2000 during a meeting called by Senator Jim Higgins, Fine Gael spokesman on justice at the time, and Brendan Howlin, Labour's justice spokesman.
Mr O'Donoghue said the pair came to him in private, but he added he was in no doubt that if they genuinely believed there had been a political advantage to be gained and that they were on solid ground they would have gone to the Dáil with the information.
"He didn't express the view the information was correct," he said of Mr Higgins. "As I recall it, the information was put my way, and he intended me to deal with it."
The Minister said it was natural for the two to pass on the information to him to deal with. "The facts of the matter are that they presented the documentation to me instead of taking it to the Garda Commissioner so it was up to me to make a decision as opposed to them having to make a decision. They certainly didn't decide to leave me out of it."
The allegations claimed the internal Garda inquiry into corruption in the ranks in Co Donegal was compromised.
They had been made to Mr Higgins in a fax from Mr McBrearty snr the same day Martin Giblin, the publican's barrister, put almost identical claims to Mr Howlin.
The information sparked a major Garda inquiry and ultimately lead to the setting up of the tribunal.
PA