Surveillance expert accused over bugging denials
A former garda surveillance expert was today accused of denying suspects were routinely recorded while in custody for fear scores of convictions would be overturned.
Shamed ex-detective John White made the allegation at the Morris Tribunal as his former colleague Joseph Costelloe repeatedly rejected claims he bugged garda stations.
White said it took place in late 1996 in Letterkenny during the botched investigation into the death of cattle dealer Richie Barron.
Even though White himself was disgraced and has been sacked from the force for corruption, his shocking claim has been supported by two other officers.
Retired Garda John Dooley, who last year blew the whistle on systematic abuse of suspects in custody, has told the inquiry he saw White and Mr Costelloe talking about bugging Letterkenny Garda Station.
And Garda Tina Fowley, who also broke rank to help uncover corruption, has said she witnessed senior officers talking about using the Garda technical section to see if information could be gleaned for the Barron investigation.
Mr Costelloe joined the force in 1968 and after ten years in the Garda Technical Bureau he moved to the telecommunications section which involved surveillance on suspects. Before retiring in 1999 he was regarded as an expert in his field.
In December 1996 he spent a few days in Donegal as gardai tried to solve Mr Barron’s apparent hit-and-run death.
But he repeatedly being there to bug consultation rooms.
“It never happened,” Mr Costelloe said.
“I didn’t do it. It would be contrary to the regulations.”
Mr Costelloe has admitted bugging a garda station, but insisted it only happened once in his distinguished 30-year career.
In 1993 he assisted a murder investigation in Ballinasloe. He placed a bug in an air vent in a cell to listen in on conversations between two men due to be arrested the next day. The tape was ultimately used to secure the conviction of one of the men and the acquittal of the second, and was made known to defence teams during the trial.
But White said rather than it being the exception it was the norm.
“It was a tool they could use without harming anybody,” Mr White said. “That is the way it went on, I remember it clearly.” White accused Mr Costelloe of hiding the extent of bugging operations as it would open up a huge vista and lead to appeals against convictions for breaches of constitutional rights. “I am putting it to you that you are not telling the truth for those reasons,” White said. Mr Costelloe replied: “My evidence to this tribunal Mr Chairman is the truth.”
The tribunal is currently investigating the allegations made by White that garda stations were routinely bugged to record suspects and help solve crimes.
