The inquiry into the shooting at Abbeylara today heard evidence that RTÉnamed John Carthy without the co-operation of the Garda press officer.
Garda press officer Supt John Farrelly told the inquiry that during the siege he found out, just minutes before a liveinterview with the RTÉ Radio One Programme Five Seven Live,that it was going to name John Carthy. Before this, he had not been named in media reports.
Supt Farrelly said he had two choices to make. One was to leave the interview or he could do the interview in the same manner he had done other interviews. He decided to carry on in a sensitive manner in case Mr Carthy was listening.
He told the sub-committee he had given details of Mr Carthy's identity and medical history to some of the media to try and stop them from revealing his name.
He said it would not have been difficult for the media to find out about Mr Carthy from the locals in Abbeylara and so he wanted to inform them of Mr Carthy's medical history so the media would be sensitive in their reporting.
In relation to media blackouts, Supt John Farrelly said there were some agreements between the media and the Garda, particularly regarding kidnapping cases. But when the media were already aware of a situation it would be necessary for the Garda to control how they deal with the media, he said.