"The situation which confronted the members of An Garda Síochána at the scene was difficult and difficult in the extreme," Mr Michael McGrath SC, told the tribunal.
"However, they are trained professionals and it seems not only appropriate but of some considerable importance to inquire into whether they were adequately trained and equipped to deal with the situation, and whether that training was implemented appropriately." This would be examined in the course of the tribunal, as would the way in which the police dealt with similar situations in comparable jurisdictions, he said.
He pointed out that in other jurisdictions a distinction is made between dealing with people in an armed or hostage-taking situation who are rational, and those who, because of some form of mental impairment, do not behave in an expected, rational manner.
The tribunal would also be examining alternative courses of action to the one deployed, including the possible use of dogs, he said.
Mr McGrath told the tribunal that the level of knowledge among the gardaí of John Carthy's background and circumstances was of particular importance, as this related to his state of mind. This included the knowledge they had, or should have had, of his medical history, his possession of firearms, recent events or circumstances which could have had a bearing on his state of mind, and the extent to which such information was utilised.
He had first been diagnosed with depression in 1992, and suffered from a number of episodes. He was on medication at the time of his death.
He had a gun since 1992, when he joined Abbeylara gun club. In 1998 the gun was taken in by gardaí, who heard allegations that Mr Carthy had threatened people. However, after investigating his health and the allegations, the gun was returned and his firearms certificate renewed.
Mr McGrath commented that after August 1998 no member of the family, friend, public or professional person expressed concern to the Garda about his continued possession of a firearm.
In September 1998 he was arrested and accused of causing malicious damage to the Abbeylara football team's mascot, a wooden goat. He denied this, and Mr McGrath said no evidence had been found to link him with the damage.
Mr Carthy was very upset by the arrest and claimed to have been mistreated. His attitude to gardaí changed after this date. In the days leading up to his death, he was heard to make remarks about the gardaí not being "here again". The tribunal has received over 200 witness statements, as well as further information from members of the public and experts, he said.
Mr Justice Barr, chairman of the tribunal, said it would resume in Dublin in early March, after the tribunal had moved into its new premises.