The Dublin city coroner has agreed that the identity of Garda witnesses can be concealed when they give evidence at the inquests of two men killed during a foiled post office robbery at Lusk almost two years ago.
Eric Hopkins (24), from Lower Rutland Street, and Colm Griffin (33), from Canon Lillis Avenue, in the north inner city, were shot dead when gardaí intercepted them at the attempted robbery in the north Co Dublin village on May 26th, 2005.
The armed detectives had been lying in wait for the gang. The joint inquest had previously been adjourned to allow criminal charges to proceed.
Earlier this month, Gavin Farrelly (35) of Lower Sheriff Street, Dublin received a 10-year sentence for the attempted robbery and related offences.
Yesterday, the Dublin city coroner, Dr Brian Farrell, said he was examining the Garda file on the incident with a view to drawing up a list of witnesses for the inquest which is expected to take place in the autumn.
Barrister Fergal Foley, for the gardaí, asked that the identity of Garda witnesses be protected during the hearing. He asked that the Garda witnesses be described as Garda A, B, C and so on and that they be allowed to give evidence behind a screen.
"It's not a request that I make lightly but there are certain security matters that have to be considered," he said.
Mr Foley also asked that the faces of gardaí be concealed in the short piece of CCTV footage which will be shown during the inquest.
"There are individual members of An Garda Síochána and if they were readily identifiable it is possible that they might be in danger," he said.
John Byrne, counsel for the Hopkins and Griffin families, said the relatives had no objection to the proposal as long as the gardaí were present to give evidence.
Dr Farrell said the Supreme Court had already ruled that he had the authority to sanction such measures. Seven years ago, the Supreme Court upheld Dr Farrell's decision to allow gardaí to give evidence behind screens during an inquest into the death of John Morris. He was shot dead by gardaí during an armed raid in Inchicore three years earlier. The coroner's court had heard that a threat had been made by the INLA to a garda involved in the incident.
In that case, evidence was given behind a screen shielding the Garda witnesses from the general public but allowing witnesses to be seen by Dr Farrell, the legal teams and the jury.
Dr Farrell adjourned the joint inquest for mention on July 2nd when a full hearing date will be fixed. He said he hoped the families were not disappointed at this delay but he would try to expedite the inquest. Relatives of the two men were in court for yesterday's hearing.
