The son of Frank McBrearty Snr, McBrearty became known nationally as a result of the Morris Tribunal's ruling that police had tried to frame him for the 1996 murder of Richie Barron.

McBrearty pursued the Irish state in a long-running legal battle to "restore his good name".

[1][2] McBrearty was in court in 2012, when a landmark judgement found in favour of him and his wife against Allied Irish Banks (AIB).

[4] He stood in the Stranorlar local electoral area, and was elected to Donegal County Council.

[10] McBrearty has been accused of act(ing) like (a) thug... at a council meeting in Buncrana in which he allegedly and forcibly removed or stole a mobile device from another elected official.