Frank McBrearty Snr is an

Irish Irish may refer to: Common meanings * Someone or something of, from, or related to: ** Ireland, an island situated off the north-western coast of continental Europe ***Éire, Irish language name for the isle ** Northern Ireland, a constituent unit ...

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.RTÉ News: McBrearty awarded some €2.5m damages
/ref> Part of the Morris Tribunal 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 County Donegal ( ; ga, Contae Dhún na nGall) is a county of Ireland in the province of Ulster and in the Northern and Western Region. It is named after the town of Donegal in the south of the county. It has also been known as County Tyrconne ...

, he served with the

Irish Army The Irish Army, known simply as the Army ( ga, an tArm), is the land component of the Defence Forces of Ireland.The Defence Forces are made up of the Permanent Defence Forces – the standing branches – and the Reserve Defence Forces. The Ar ...

in the

United Nations Operation in the Congo The United Nations Operation in the Congo (french: Opération des Nations Unies au Congo, abbreviated to ONUC) was a United Nations peacekeeping force deployed in the Republic of the Congo in 1960 in response to the Congo Crisis. ONUC was the ...

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 In traffic laws, a hit and run or a hit-and-run is the act of causing a traffic collision and not stopping afterwards. It is considered a supplemental crime in most jurisdictions. Additional obligation In many jurisdictions, there may be an ...

, 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 is an

independent Independent or Independents may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Artist groups * Independents (artist group), a group of modernist painters based in the New Hope, Pennsylvania, area of the United States during the early 1930s * Independ ...

member of

Donegal County Council Donegal County Council ( ga, Comhairle Contae Dhún na nGall) is the authority responsible for local government in County Donegal, Ireland. As a county council, it is governed by the Local Government Act 2001. The council is responsible for hou ...

References

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