Carthy killed just after radio mention

RTÉ radio named Mr John Carthy as the man at the centre of the siege at Abbeylara, shortly before he emerged from his house carrying…

RTÉ radio named Mr John Carthy as the man at the centre of the siege at Abbeylara, shortly before he emerged from his house carrying a loaded gun.

The tribunal heard that Mr Carthy's name was used during an interview with a woman on RTÉ's Five Seven Live programme, some time after 5 p.m. on the day of the shooting.

The woman, who was not named at the tribunal yesterday made a plea for Mr Carthy to leave the house. At 5.45 p.m. Mr Carthy emerged from the house and was shot dead by gardaí.

Mr John Rogers, counsel representing the Garda, told the tribunal that the woman was heard to say "John come out, we love you" during the radio interview.

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Supt Joseph Shelly, in the witness box yesterday, told the tribunal that he had not been aware of the radio interview until after Mr Carthy was killed.

"Were you surprised that the interview occurred, that someone, completely unknown to you was addressing John Carthy on the radio while you were making arrangements for Dr Shanley [Mr Carthy's psychiatrist] to come to the negotiation point," Mr Rogers asked.

Supt Shelly replied that he could not answer that question, however he said that he was aware that Mr Carthy was listening to the radio inside the house.

Supt Shelly told the tribunal how several other people tried to speak to Mr Carthy at the negotiation point earlier that day but got no response.

Mr Sean Farrell, a plasterer who had worked with Mr Carthy, asked him to come out of the house and said that "no real harm had been done".

Mr Carthy's cousin, Mr Tom Walsh, said that Mr Carthy "wouldn't do time" if he came out. Mr Carthy's reaction was to level his gun at Mr Walsh, Supt Shelly said. Ms Marie Carthy, who was also at the scene was not permitted to go the negotiation point.

Olivia Kelly

Olivia Kelly

Olivia Kelly is Dublin Editor of The Irish Times