GSOC seeks transcripts of garda killer’s court appearances

The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (Gsoc) has applied to the Special Criminal Court for transcripts relating to appearances before the court of Adrian Crevan Mackin, who shot dead Garda Anthony Golden in 2015.

The court was told that a “public interest investigation” has been launched by Gsoc following complaints it received about “the nature of some interactions it is alleged members of An Garda Síochána had with Mackin both prior and subsequent to his arrest in January 2015.”

The court heard that the investigation is currently ongoing.

Counsel for Gsoc, Mr Ronan Kennedy BL, applied for the court transcripts and said that Garda Golden was killed by Mackin on October 11th, 2015 at his family home in Omeath, Co Louth before Mackin took his own life. Garda Golden's partner Siobhan Phillips was seriously injured in the incident.

He said that Mackin (25) was charged before the Special Criminal Court in January, 2015 with membership of the IRA and his case came before the court on a number of occasions.

Mr Kennedy applied for transcripts of the twelve occasions Mackin’s case was mentioned at the court and said that Mackin had been granted bail by the court. He said that Mr Jon Leeman, a senior investigations officer with Gsoc, had sworn an affidavit on June 20th seeking the transcripts.

Counsel for the DPP, Mr John Byrne BL, said that the DPP was not opposing the application. However, he said the DPP did not believe the Special Criminal Court had the jurisdiction to order the transcripts be handed over to Gsoc and that the application instead should be made to the High Court.

Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, presiding at the non-jury court, said the court would rule on the application on Wednesday.

In January 2015 Mackin was granted bail on his own bond of €100 and an independent surety of €5,000 and had been complying with his bail terms when he shot dead Garda Golden and injured Ms Phillips.