A detective garda who shot dead two raiders told an inquest today that there was no doubt in his mind an armed gunman was prepared to kill him.
The specially trained garda said he feared for his life and for the lives of customers and staff in the Village Store in Lusk, north Co Dublin, during the foiled post office robbery.
Det Garda 'A' at an inquest into the deaths of two armed raiders
Detective Garda A, a member of the emergency response unit (ERU), was the first of seven gardaí giving evidence from behind a curtain to protect their identities.
He told the inquest he shot Colm Griffin (33), of Canon Lillis Avenue, and Eric Hopkins (24), of Lower Rutland Street on the day of the raid in May 2005.
Det Gda A told Dublin City Coroner's Court both he and Det Gda B were assigned to pose as builders shopping in the store with the aim of preventing the raiders entering the premises and securing the safety of staff and customers inside.
About five minutes later, via an ear piece, he was told the raiders were at the rear of the store.
He said he believed the raiders would attempt to enter via the rear door of the post office, but as he got in to position inside he heard loud banging.
Det Gda A said there was then one loud bang and a spray of glass through the front counter.
"I was positive that was gun fire," he said. "I was fearful the raiders were going to get through the screen. I decided at that point it was better going through in to the shop floor."
Det Gda A said he called out: "Armed garda on duty."
"I thought it would give me a better chance to arrest those people," he said. "When I opened the door outward there was an armed robber about six feet away from me. He was holding a gun in both hands at chest level."
The garda said the gunman pushed the gun out directly out at him.
"There was no mistake in his movement. There was absolutely no doubt in my mind he was prepared to kill me."
Det Gda A said he discharged the first round at the gunman, later known to be Griffin, but as he fell the raider continued to aim his weapon at the officer.
"I felt he was still going to discharge it so I made the decision to discharge a round a second time."
The second bullet hit Griffin in the head.
The garda said as Griffin fell, he spotted a second raider approaching and putting his hand on Griffin's gun. He said he called on the man continuously to drop the weapon and get on the ground, but instead he took off to his right and turned to face him.
"I thought he was challenging me. I believed he had taken possession of the gun. I feared for my life and for people in the shop. At that stage I discharged a third shot from my pistol to the torso area."
Hopkins died from a single gunshot wound.
Earlier, a third armed robber who surrendered at the scene claimed the elite gardaí gave no warning before shooting his two accomplices.
The inquests resume on Monday.
PA