Six new charges were preferred yesterday against a Co Donegal Garda sergeant who is already charged with illegal possession of a firearm.
Sgt John White (46), from Dreenan, Ballybofey, claimed the charges were an attempt to discredit him before he gave evidence at the forthcoming Morris tribunal into alleged irregularities within the Garda Division in Donegal.
In replies following his arrest and subsequent appearance at Letterkenny District Court yesterday, Sgt White also claimed it was also an attempt at intimidation by the Carty team, set up to investigate the allegations, in order to suppress the truth about aspects of the Richard Barron investigation; and also current investigations being carried out by the PSNI in relation to the Omagh bomb on August 15th, 1998, and associated terrorist attacks and wrongdoing carried out by senior members of the Garda Síochána.
The new charges also refer to 1998. Three claim he made false statements to gardaí on July 21st in Sligo, November 11st in Sligo and December 8th in Letterkenny while the other three allege he attempted to pervert the course of justice on the same dates.
These matters relate to a witness, Bernard Conlon from Sligo, who formed part of the original actions taken by the Garda in relation to Mr Frank McBrearty and his extended family for various offences. Conlon was convicted of making false statements to the Garda and at Sligo Circuit Court in June he received a three-year suspended sentence.
When Judge O'Donnell ruled that the evidence of arrest, charge and caution could be given Insp Michael Keane said he executed the warrant at Sgt White's home in Dreenan and put the charges to him.
Sgt White denied his guilt in all cases and claimed each charge to be "further intimidation by the Carty team in order to keep the truth suppressed".
He also denied being in Sligo or having any conversation with Bernard Conlon or ever entering his home on the dates in question. He believed this was being done "to suppress the truth in relation to the statement of admission allegedly made by Frank McBrearty jnr on December 4th, 1996".
Judge O'Donnell adjourned the matter until July 25th and remanded Sgt White in custody with consent to bail on his own bond of €1,500.