UH/1039

Accused Garda claims charges are bid to hide Omagh truth
BY CATRIONA GALLEN

A BALLYBOFEY Garda Sergeant has claimed six new charges against him last Thursday at Letterkenny District court were further intimidation by the Carty Team in order to suppress the Richie Barron investigation.
The police officer, who is accused of conspiring the course of justice, has claimed that his arrest was part of a bid to hide the truth about the Omagh bombing, Letterkenny District court heard last week.
Sergeant John White of Dreenan, Ballybofey appeared before in court on three charges of making false statements on 21 July, 1998; 10 July, 1998 at Sligo and on 8 December 1998 in Letterkenny, as well as being charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice on the same dates.
Inspector Michael Keane arrested Sergeant John White at Dreenan, Ballybofey at 11.05am on Thursday morning. In response to each of the charges, White replied he was not guilty and said it was "further intimidation by the Carty team in order to keep the truth suppressed."
Sergeant White denied being in Sligo, having a conversation with Bernard Conlon or entering Conlon's home at 61 Carton Bay, Sligo. He added that it was "an attempt to suppress the truth in relation to a statement of admission allegedly made by Frank McBrearty Junior on 14 December, 1996.
"I also believe that this is a further attempt at intimidation by the Carty team 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 and associated terrorist attacks and also wrongdoings by Senior members of the Gardai.
"I believe this and the other charges are an attempt to discredit me in relation to evidence I will give to the Morris Tribunal and any investigation into the Omagh bomb."
White was remanded in custody with consent to bail on his own bond of £1,500 to appear before Letterkenny District again today (Thursday, 25 July).