Garda reaction: Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy has strongly defended the Emergency Response Unit (ERU), saying he was "very proud" of its record.
The Garda staff associations have also defended their members, saying they had only seconds to make vital decisions on the day and that no member of the force had set out to harm John Carthy.
Mr Conroy told reporters at a passing out ceremony in the Garda College, Templemore, Co Tipperary: "If you go back and look at what the [ERU] have been doing on behalf of the Irish people and the force generally during the terrorist campaign in this country, I can assure you all those people put their lives on the line time and time again. I wouldn't take criticism very lightly as far as they are concerned."
Mr Conroy said he had not fully read the Barr report but believed many of its recommendations had been acted upon. A training manual for scene commanders had been devised. Training in best-practice management had been enhanced. "I'd hope whatever recommendations are in the report, we would have covered all of them. If we haven't I'll take that on board."
The Garda Representative Association (GRA) said there appeared to be training issues for Garda management to address. GRA general secretary PJ Stone said while the death of John Carthy was tragic it must be viewed in the context of events on the day.
The Association of Garda Superintendents said it would consider the report and, if necessary, issue a full response soon. However, general secretary Tony Kennelly said the association was satisfied its members had carried out their functions on the day "with the sole purpose of maintaining order and preserving life and this included the deceased John Carthy".
Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors general secretary Joe Dirwan said the report represented closure for the Carthy family and for the gardaí involved. "No member of An Garda Síochána goes out to work purposely to kill or injure any member of the public. Unfortunately split [ second] decisions have to be made."
Two of its members, Det Sgt Mick Jackson and Det Sgt Gerard Russell, who acted as negotiator and strategic tactician on the day, were praised by Mr Justice Barr. They had acted with courage and honour and had tried to achieve a peaceful end to the siege.
Conor Brady of the Garda Ombudsman Commission did not accept as a mitigating factor the need for armed members to make split- second decisions.
"Guards are supposed to be trained, equipped, educated and resourced to deal with these situations," he said. He did not know how much progress had been made within the force since the Abbeylara siege. Gardaí had had a "rough time of it" lately. Individual guards were "hurt", "damaged" and "quite ashamed of themselves" because of the actions of a minority.
