A scandalous allegation was made about Ms Marie Carthy and the character of her late brother John was being assassinated for a second time, counsel for the Carthy family told the sub-committee. Mr Michael O'Higgins SC said the Carthy family had come to the sub-committee expecting an apology from the Garda Siochana.
"We were under the impression that they (the gardai) would come to this inquiry and apologise for what had been said about the Carthy family," he said.
He was speaking after Chief Supt Adrian Culligan had responded to issues raised by Senator Denis O'Donovan, concerning a submission from the Irish Council for Civil Liberties.
The submission said the Garda report on the incident painted a picture of John Carthy as being "mad, bad and sad" by making references to drinking, gambling and personal relationship difficulties.
It also pointed out that the Garda report failed to mention Marie Carthy's rejection of "repeated allegations that she was intoxicated upon arrival at the scene of the siege".
Chief Supt Culligan said his investigation sought to establish all facts. "I went through a whole series of replies to you in relation to adjectives that were used, in relation to being introverted, in relation to a gambling habit, in relation to what his friends said about him. And the reference to these is not an assassination by me as an investigator," he said.
The inquest records would show that three officers gave evidence in relation to Marie Carthy's condition, he said. "And I'm almost 100 per cent sure that counsel for the Carthy family on the occasion, Mr Gageby, never questioned any of those officers in relation to that condition."
Mr O'Higgins said the inquest was a very limited forum, which allowed a very limited line of questioning. He said the Garda report had used very selective material from hundreds of witness statements. "What man in his 20s hasn't had a row with his girlfriend? What man in his 20s does not take a few drinks at the weekend or put £5 on a horse or so forth?" he asked.
Mr Anthony Aston SC, for senior members of the Garda, said unnecessary reference had been made to Ms Carthy by Senator O'Donovan. "Now the matter need, in my respectful submission, go no further than that."
Later Chief Supt Culligan said it had never been his intention or the intention of the Garda to damage the Carthy family or cause them further hurt.
"The findings that are in my report, as I have said before, are backed up with substantial statements of evidence. It is not my [personal] view that the late Mr Carthy had several problems. I was highlighting them for the purpose of this inquiry and it's regrettable perhaps that the question was asked of me and I answered in all good faith to it. If it has caused anybody any upset it is regretted."
