DONEGAL publican Frank
McBrearty said he had received justice at last after
his award this week of €5.5m damages and court costs
arising from Garda misconduct.
He was speaking on the steps of the High Court in
Castlebar after a settlement was reached in respect
of his second claim for personal damages.
He said that he and his wife Rosalind had received
justice 11 years after the Gardai tried to frame him
and his family for crimes that had never happened.
"Having failed to frame us and put us in prison for
crimes which never took place, the Gardai tried to
destroy our business by prosecuting me and my family
and staff with 160 charges in the district court.
"We have spent over €1m defending our family against
the abuse of An Garda Siochana and at long last we
have received justice," he said.
He was awarded €2m in personal damages on Wednesday
for unlawful arrest, libel, malicious prosecution
and wrongful imprisonment by Gardai.
The award came after a day of legal negotiations at
Castlebar High Court. Last week, the Donegal
publican was awarded nearly €2.5m in respect of
damages to his business caused by Garda harassment. |
