Tom Murphy ERU solicitor
The chairman of the Barr Tribunal has said legal representation for the Garda ERU would have to be withdrawn in future if they did not provide cooperation with the inquiry into the shooting of John Carthy.
Mr Justice Robert Barr made his comments this morning after the return of John Rogers SC and a legal team representing the ERU and over 20 other Gardaí who were involved in the siege in Abbeylara.
When the tribunal opened this morning Mr Tom Murphy, solicitor for the ERU, said his clients had instructed Counsel to return today following his statements and ruling last week.
Mr Murphy said the suggestion that the ERU's intention was to either walk away from the Tribunal or prevent the raising of difficult issues was and is incorrect.
Mr Murphy said the Chairman's finding on 16 January indicated an appreciation of the validity of the submissions made to the tribunal by Mr Rogers before he walked out in December.
When Mr Murphy said the Gardaí are committed to insuring the Tribunal continues its work in a fair and orderly fashion, the Chairman asked if counsel had now returned on a full time basis to the inquiry.
The Chairman said it was disappointing that not even a word of regret had been expressed about the comments made to him in December.
Mr Murphy said the Gardaí will cooperate fully with the inquiry.
Mr Justice Barr said it could only be on that basis that the Garda ERU could be legally represented.
The Chairman said there seemed to be a misunderstanding in the media that the Gardaí were not represented at the Tribunal last week when Mr Rogers withdrew.
He said counsel for the Garda Commissioner had looked after the interests of the Gardaí last week - and very properly so, in his opinion.
