The State Pathologist has said that John Carthy, killed by Gardaí during a siege last April, was shot four times from behind. Dr John Harbison was speaking at Mr Carthy's inquest in Longford. Dr Harbison said that Mr Carthy sustained two bullet wounds in the thigh, a third entered the base of the spine and the fatal bullet entered the lower back and passed through his heart.
A psychiatrist earlier told the inquest that he wrote to a Garda Superintendent in 1998 suggesting that the 27-year-old Abbeylara man was fit to use a firearm. Dr Eamon Shanley gave extensive evidence of treating John Carthy for depression and other illnesses between 1990 and 1999. He said that in 1998, Mr Carthy had responded to treatment and there was no evidence of depression. The inquest earlier heard from one of the first armed Gardaí to arrive at the scene.
Detective Sergeant Aiden Foley told the inquest that Mr Carthy opened the shotgun he was holding and threw away a cartridge only moments before he was shot dead by Gardaí. Detective Sergeant Foley said that Mr Carthy began to walk in his direction after he had closed the gun and he had later decided he was going to have to shoot him.
He said that John Carthy came out of his Abbeylara house, crossed the road and opened the gun he was carrying at waist level. He then removed a cartridge by jerking the weapon and then closed the double-barrelled shotgun again. After two or three paces, the Garda said that he feared for his life. He aimed his own firearm at Carthy and made a conscious decision he was going to shoot him to save his own life and others.
Earlier today, the Coroner at the inquest criticised an Irish Times editorial decision. He asked the newspaper to present him with an explanation as to why they published the names of members of the Emergency Response Unit, in contravention of his request yesterday that they would not be named. At the opening of the inquest proceedings this morning, Dr Gerard McDonagh said that the members of the ERU were all people who lived in the community with children and families. He said that he was disappointed that the press had not co-operated and thought he was due an explanation.
