The media should not be judgmental about the Garda's decisions in the Baiba Saulite case because only gardaí, and not commentators, knew the full facts, Minister for Justice Michael McDowell said yesterday.
Mr McDowell said any "obvious threat" to Ms Saulite would have been acted upon. "[ We] are not in a position to second guess the gardaí," he said. "They take these professional judgments . . . They were acquainted with all the details and all the facts."
Ms Saulite was shot at her home in Swords, Co Dublin, on Sunday night. The home of her solicitor, who is also based in Swords, was firebombed last February. It is understood he is currently out of the country.
Garda press officer Supt Kevin Donohoe said that before Ms Saulite's murder there was no known threat against her life. However, he said gardaí had recently become aware of threats to a solicitor who had represented her in a recent case.
Supt Donohoe said the solicitor was advised of these threats and was given extensive security advice. "As is normal procedure in such cases, the properties of this subject would have received attention from Garda patrols, both uniformed and armed. At no time, prior to Ms Saulite's murder, was full-time armed personal protection supplied to this man."
He added that due to the links between the solicitor and Ms Saulite she was also given crime prevention advice. However "at no time, prior to her tragic death, were gardaí aware of any specific threat against the life of Ms Baiba Saulite and no complaints were received by gardaí from any person in this regard."
Supt Donohoe said gardaí have now become aware that Ms Saulite had expressed concerns for her safety to friends and family. Ms Saulite's estranged husband, Lebanese national Hassan Hassan (35), is currently in Mountjoy Prison serving a four-year sentence for his role in a crime gang that was exporting luxury cars.
