The 27-year-old armed man at the centre of a siege in Abbeylara, Co Longford, told a trained garda negotiator that he was afraid to surrender, fearing he would be jailed for 10 years or returned to a psychiatric hospital.
Det Insp Michael Jackson, the negotiator, who fired the first two shots at Mr John Carthy when he eventually emerged from the house, yesterday gave evidence at the inquest into his death. He said he was a sergeant at the time of the incident and had since been promoted and transferred from the ERU.
He began negotiations at 10.20 p.m. on Wednesday, introducing himself over the loud hailer: "I am Mick. I work for the gardai and I'm here to help." He said his aim had been to open dialogue and create an atmosphere of trust.
However, Mr Carthy had become increasingly agitated as the siege wore on. Det Insp Jackson said that less than three hours after beginning negotiations he was worried that "meaningful dialogue" had not been established. "What's with the 100 guards outside and the one of me?" Mr Carthy asked Det Insp Jackson. He told him he would not let the gardai take his gun from him again. "I'm going to get 10 years for this, 10 fucking years," he said. Det Insp Jackson assured him he would not, because nobody had been injured.
Mr Carthy fired several shots during the negotiations, one knocking a loud hailer from the wall, another knocking a brick, which struck Det Insp Jackson on the head, leaving him "slightly dazed". Mr Carthy shouted: "Free State bastards. You're just like the Black 'n' Tans."
Mr Carthy expressed concern that he would be sent back to a psychiatric hospital if he came out of the house.
At 11.30 p.m. on Wednesday Mr Carthy asked for a solicitor but would not give a name. "I want the best, the best." Det Insp Jackson told him he would get him a solicitor if he wanted one and to name him, but he got no answer.
Det Insp Jackson sympathised with the Carthy family on the death of John Carthy.
Yesterday, a letter from The Irish Times was delivered to the coroner presiding over the inquest, Dr Gerry McDonagh. He had asked the newspaper to explain why it ignored his request to refrain from publishing the names of ERU members. The letter stated that an editorial decision had been made to publish the names.