Garda tells of gun in Carthy home

THE BARR TRIBUNAL: Gardaí were alerted to the presence of a gun in the Carthy home by a neighbouring family who were concerned for their safety, the Barr tribunal was told yesterday.

Garda Peter Earley told the inquiry he received an informal complaint from the McLoughlin family, neighbours of the Carthys, about Mr John Carthy's possession of a gun. Garda Earley said Mrs McLoughlin had expressed concern for the safety of herself and her husband.

Gardaí confiscated the gun in August 1998 and following receipt of a letter from Dr David Shanley, a consultant psychiatrist at St James's and St Patrick's hospitals, decided to return the gun to Mr Carthy later that year.

Yesterday Garda Earley gave evidence that he had spoken informally to a Garda sergeant about the McLoughlin's concerns.

He said as far as he could recall the officer concerned was Sgt Daniel Monahan, based in Granard.

Garda Earley said prior to the return of the gun it had been stored in Granard Garda Station. Before the gun was returned he had travelled to the Carthy home to inspect a steel firearms locker to see if it complied with the regulations covering the storage of firearms. He said he found Mr John Carthy "ok", they had a chat and he was invited into the house where he was shown a steel locker of the type generally used to keep firearms.

In response to questions from Mr Raymond Comyn SC, for the tribunal, Garda Earley said he found Mr John Carthy to be pleasant and he had reported back to the sergeant that the steel locker was suitable for the storage of a gun.

The gun was returned to Mr Carthy in November 1988.