Gardaí at scene of siege yesterday
Garda technical experts are continuing the search the scene of yesterday' s shooting in Abbeylara, County Longford. 27-year-old John Carthy was shot dead by gardai after a day long stand off at his home. This morning, Mr Carthy's body was removed from the scene to Mullingar General hospital where a post mortem examination is being carried out. A garda inquiry is now underway.
Mr Carthy was shot by gardaí shortly after emerging, carrying a double-barrelled shotgun, from the cottage in Abbeylara in which he had barricaded himself for over twenty-four hours. Gardaí have refused to comment on how many members of the force opened fire on Mr Carthy after he walked out of the house. It is also not yet known if Mr Carthy fired at gardaí immediately prior to his death. Gardaí have said that Mr Carthy ignored repeated pleas to drop his firearm prior to the shooting.
The Fine Gael spokesman on Justice Jim Higgins said the results of the Garda investigation must be made public while the Socialist party deputy, Joe Higgins, has called for an independent inquiry alongside the garda inquiry. Deputy Higgins said considering the expertise available to the gardaí, it was incomprehensible that it was not possible to incapacitate a disturbed man wielding a gun, rather than shoot him dead.
