The opening statement of the tribunal of inquiry into the lethal shooting of John Carty in Abbeylara three years by gardaí was heard this morning in the High Court.
Chairman of the tribunal Mr Justice Robert Barr said the tribunal's function was to examine the circumstances and issues leading up to and culminating in the shooting of John Carthy in April 2000.
The tribunal will also review statutory law in relation to gun licences and the right of citizens to have and use firearms. It will also review relevant police training.
Mr Justice Barr said the tribunal was not a trial into the alleged wrongdoings of persons involved in the shooting.
The tribunal will also examine how the police in comparable jurisdictions, (e.g Scotland, Canada, New Zealand and Australia) dealt with "similar situations where a dangerous armed gunman is believed to be activated by mental illness, psychiatric disorder or other such disability", Mr Justice Barr said.
He said the role of the Garda Emergency Response Unit would be examined, as well as who was in overall Garda command at the scene. The instructions any officer had in dealing with an apparently dangerous man armed with a loaded shotgun who was not engaged in serious criminal activity per se, but was a person whose behaviour was likely to be the product of mental or psychiatric illness or other such disability, will also be examined.
Applications for legal representations were made today on behalf of 36 gardaí and the Garda Commissioner. The Garda Representative Association, the Garda Sergeants' Association made a reserve application.
John Carthy's mother Rose and his sister, Ms Marie Carthy, also made applications for legal representation as did his GP and psychiatrist.
Rulings on the applications will be given by Mr Justice Barr in the High Court on Friday.