A retired garda said he obliged Det Sgt John White by providing certificates of employment for a witness's court expenses but submitted false receipts and was prosecuted for it.
John Nicholson, then based in Sligo, said Sgt White never asked him to get a false certificate. He had agreed to Sgt White's request to provide a certificate of earnings as he wanted to oblige him.
Mr Nicholson agreed with Paul McDermott SC, for the tribunal, that he had a reputable career as a garda but events in 19997-99 led to a district court prosecution for submitting three false certificates of employment for Bernard Conlon to obtain court expenses.
Asked by Mr McDermott who brought him to that, he replied: "One man and one man only and that was Det Sgt John White. I would never have been in that position if it weren't for that man." Mr Conlon has alleged Sgt White told him to get caught late-night drinking in a nightclub in Raphoe owned by the McBreartys and be a State witness to set them up.
During the evidence, chairman Mr Justice Frederick Morris continually asked what Sgt White had said to him the first time and why he had obliged Sgt White.
Mr Nicholson repeated: "Sgt White asked me or someone else to a get a receipt for £40. Sgt White emphasised that Mr Conlon was such an important witness."
Later the chairman asked again: "Here is Sgt White who you held in high regard. He comes on the phone and you're telling me now what you heard him say, words to that effect that, if you can't get a certificate of employment, get someone to draw up the certificate. So you were to give him a false certificate?" Mr Nicholson said Sgt White never asked him to get a false certificate.