Frank McBrearty Snr is an Irish businessman who was the victim of

police harassment The police are a constituted body of persons empowered by a state, with the aim to enforce the law, to ensure the safety, health and possessions of citizens, and to prevent crime and civil disorder. Their lawful powers include arrest and ...

following the death of Richie Barron. Report of the Tribunal of Inquiry, Set up Pursuant to the Tribunal of Inquiry (Evidence) Acts 1921-2002 into Certain Gardaí in the Donegal Division, REPORT ON THE INVESTIGATION INTO THE DEATH OF RICHARD BARRON AND THE EXTORTION CALLS TO MICHAEL AND CHARLOTTE PEOPLES
/ref> He was awarded nearly €2.5 million in compensation by the

Irish High Court The High Court ( ga, An Ard-Chúirt) of Ireland is a court which deals at first instance with the most serious and important civil and criminal cases. When sitting as a criminal court it is called the Central Criminal Court and sits with judg ...

.RTÉ News: McBrearty awarded some €2.5m damages
/ref> Part of the

Morris Tribunal The Morris Tribunal was a public inquiry to address allegations of the 1990s and early 2000s against the Garda Síochána, the national police force of Ireland. Subjects explored included suggestions of corrupt and dishonest policing in County ...

investigated the behaviour of members of the

Garda Síochána (; meaning "the Guardian(s) of the Peace"), more commonly referred to as the Gardaí (; "Guardians") or "the Guards", is the national police service of Ireland. The service is headed by the Garda Commissioner who is appointed by the Irish Gover ...

in this case. Originally from

Raphoe Raphoe ( ; ) is a historical village in County Donegal, Ireland. It is the main town in the fertile district of East Donegal known as the Laggan, as well as giving its name to the Barony of Raphoe, which was later divided into the baronies of R ...

, County Donegal, he served with the Irish Army in the United Nations Operation in the Congo as a young man. He then owned a business in Scotland before returning to his hometown in 1978 to run a pub.How one family was persecuted by police
Anita Guidera,

Irish Independent The ''Irish Independent'' is an Irish daily newspaper and online publication which is owned by Independent News & Media (INM), a subsidiary of Mediahuis. The newspaper version often includes glossy magazines. Traditionally a broadsheet new ...

, 26 October 2007, retrieved 20 February 2009 His business was popular, drawing business from outside Co. Donegal. In October 1996, the body of local man Richie Barron was found on a road outside the town. Initially his death was treated as a hit and run, but it was upgraded quickly to a murder enquiry. McBrearty's son, Frank McBrearty Jnr, and a nephew, Mark McConnell, were treated by the Gardaí as suspects. McBrearty Snr was also arrested, spending 14 days in Garda custody. The tribunal found that his son and nephew were found to have been wrongly considered murder suspects by the Gardaí. His son

Frank McBrearty Jnr Frank McBrearty Jnr is an Irish politician and businessman, who has been a County Councillor on Donegal County Council since 2009. The son of Frank McBrearty Snr, McBrearty became known nationally as a result of the Morris Tribunal's ruling tha ...

is an independent member of Donegal County Council.

References

Year of birth missing (living people) Living people 20th-century Irish businesspeople People from Raphoe Irish Army soldiers {{Ireland-business-bio-stub