The Garda Commissioner has defended his force's decision to call in the Emergency Response Unit to deal with the siege at Abbeylara that led to the killing of John Carthy. Pat Byrne told the Oireachtas sub-committee, which is investigating the events in County Longford, that the shooting was a tragic conclusion that nobody wanted. Later, Chief Superintendent Adrian Culligan was asked whether John Carthy was still moving towards or threatening Gardaí when the forth bullet hit him. He told the committee that it would be wrong to indicate that a person who was shot would automatically fall down, even if they were shot four times.
Labour TD, Brendan Howlin, has claimed that there is a concerted effort to frustrate the work of the Oireachtas sub-committee. Deputy Howlin made his comments after counsel for the members of the ERU and over 20 other Gardaí objected once again to questions from committee members. John Rogers, SC, claimed the members had implied that some Gardaí were guilty of wrongdoings at the siege. Mr Rogers objected to proceedings for the third time just before 4pm. The sub-committee is now in recess.
Earlier, the inquiry was told that two members of the ERU had gone back to the scene in Abbeylara several days after the siege. This was without the knowledge of Chief Superintendant Adrian Culligan, who subsequently investigated the shooting.
John Rogers, SC, said that the implication had been made that it was wrong for these two men to go back to the scene. He asked that the inquiry be stopped and that the evidence of those at the scene should be taken first, so that the true facts could be established and not hearsay evidence.
Yesterday, members of the committee visited the scene of the shooting in County Longford. The visit came after the committee decided to carry on with its inquiry following the rejection of legal submissions on behalf of the Gardaí involved. Counsel for the officers claimed it would be dangerous and unfair for a political committee to investigate the incident.
