Mark McConnell and Michael Peoples are furious that the report released last week criticised them . . . even though they were innocent victims in the affair . . . and neglected to condemn gardai in Sligo.

The so-called 'Silver Bullet' module originated in July 1997 when Bernard Conlon agreed to be 'found on' the premises of McBrearty's nightclub in Raphoe, drinking after hours so gardai could prosecute the McBreartys under the liquor licensing laws.

In July 1998, Conlon alleged that two men, whom he later identified as McConnell and Peoples, had threatened him with a silver bullet at his home in Sligo.

Last week's report established that the two were innocent of this claim, but the men are furious over the contents of the report. McConnell told the Sunday Tribune this weekend:

"The whole tribunal is a complete fudge and the way we, as victims, were treated in the Silver Bullet module proves that. The Sligo gardai have been painted as innocent bystanders who were led on by the gardai in Donegal. In their investigation into Bernard Conlon's allegations, they took no forensics from the front door and never even tried to intercept anybody by setting up a roadblock."

Judge Frederick Morris's report criticised McConnell and Peoples not responding to repeated requests to cooperate with the tribunal, and stated, "No response was received to these letters."

However, McConnell and Peoples expressed anger that the report neglected to outline that they had been in regular correspondence with the tribunal. McConnell said, "I have records of a number of emails I sent to the tribunal and if they wanted us to be involved in the tribunal they should have summoned us to appear."

Peoples added: "I was disgusted with the report as we are no further forward than we were before this tribunal, but we are not going to go away and will keep fighting the state."