Tribunal into Abbeylara killing resumes in Longford

The tribunal into the shooting dead by gardaí of Mr John Carthy at Abbeylara Co Longford, resumes today.

The tribunal into the shooting dead by gardaí of Mr John Carthy at Abbeylara Co Longford, resumes today.

Mr Carthy, who was suffering from depression, was shot dead following a 25-hour siege at his home in April 2000. He was carrying a legally-held shotgun when he was killed by the Garda Emergency Response Unit (ERU) on the road outside his home.

The tribunal, under the chairmanship of Mr Justice Barr, will investigate six modules: the background to the fatal shooting; the circumstances surrounding it; the response of the Garda Emergency Response Unit; the cause of Mr Carthy's death; how the police in other jurisdictions deal with such situations; and a review of statute law regarding gun licences and police training.

The tribunal last month granted legal representation to nine named members of the ERU and 27 other gardaí on duty during the siege. It was the first time the names were made public.

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The ERU members granted representation included Det Sgt Michael Jackson, who acted as negotiator during the siege; Det Garda Michael Sullivan, Det Sgt Gerard Russell and Det Garda Aidan McCabe.

At Mr Carthy's inquest, Det Garda McCabe was said to have fired the fatal shot as Mr Carthy emerged from the house carrying a firearm.

Garda William Sisk, Garda Ronan Carey, Garda Tony Ryan, Garda Joseph Finnegan and Garda Oliver O'Flaherty were also granted representation as were Rose and Marie Carthy, mother and sister of Mr Carthy, who were granted limited representation.