Barr Tribunal: Lawyers for 36 gardaí in the Abbeylara siege have criticised two of John Carthy's doctors for failing to assist gardaí adequately during the 25-hour incident. Olivia Kelly reports.
Ms Margaret Nerney, for the gardaí, told the tribunal that Dr Patrick Cullen, Mr Carthy's GP, had failed to provide vital information to gardaí, and Dr David Shanley, his psychiatrist, "himself made a decision" not to come to the siege immediately, when contacted by gardaí.
Dr Cullen made a "startling omission" in not telling gardaí from the outset that Mr Carthy had previously said he would never give up his shotgun voluntarily to the authorities.
Mr Carthy's gun had been confiscated in 1998, and he had approached Dr Cullen for a letter of support for its return. Dr Cullen asked his patient, who suffered from bi-polar depression, what he would do if gardaí wanted to confiscate the gun again, because of his illness.
Dr Cullen told the tribunal that Mr Carthy indicated they would have to take the firearm by force. Dr Cullen subsequently refused to support Mr Carthy's application.
On arrival at Abbeylara shortly after the start of the siege, Dr Cullen spoke to Garda John Gibbons, but did not relay this information.
"It is to be regretted and indeed was most unfortunate on that evening that a vital piece of information, in the sole and exclusive possession of Dr Cullen . . . was never conveyed by Dr Cullen at that early stage of the siege or indeed any time thereafter," Ms Nerney said.
Dr Shanley was contacted at his office in Dublin by Insp Michael Maguire on the morning of the second day of the siege. The doctor decided "notwithstanding the seriousness of the situation" not to travel to Abbeylara until later that afternoon, she said.
"It is submitted that Dr Shanley should have himself made a decision to travel immediately to Abbeylara rather than leave the matter until his later convenience."
Insp Maguire had done all he could to secure Dr Shanley's earliest attendance at the scene by impressing the gravity of the situation upon him but had no power of compulsion over the doctor, she added.
Dr Shanley should also have made immediate contact with Dr Cullen to discuss their patient's medical condition, but no such contact was made before Mr Carthy's death.