Man unaware words would be broadcast

Barr tribunal: An Abbeylara man who gave an RTÉ reporter information about Mr John Carthy said he did not know the conversation would be broadcast on radio.

Mr Michael Heaney spoke to RTÉ reporter and producer of Five Seven Live Niall O'Flynn on the second day of the siege.

The interview was broadcast that evening on Five Seven Live. Some 30 minutes later, Mr Carthy left his house carrying a loaded gun, and was shot dead by gardaí.

Mr Heaney was outside his home in Abbeylara, when he was approached by a man who said he was from RTÉ but did not give his name. He thought he was looking for background information about Mr Carthy.

He said he "did not understand" that the reporter intended to broadcast the conversation.

During the interview, which was played to the tribunal yesterday, O'Flynn asked Mr Heaney about Mr Carthy and his family. Mr Heaney said the Carthys were a "very respectable family" who were well liked in the neighbourhood.

O'Flynn asked what Mr Heaney would say if he could speak to Mr Carthy. Mr Heaney said he would talk about the good times they had playing handball, and he would "get him out" for a game of football or handball.

Counsel for the tribunal Mr Michael McGrath asked if Mr O'Flynn had explained "in any way" that the conversation might be broadcast on a news bulletin or on Five Seven Live. Mr Heaney said he had not. However, if he had known the conversation was going to be broadcast, he would still have been happy to go ahead with the interview.

He said earlier he had approached gardaí, and asked why more local people were not invited to speak to Mr Carthy. He thought locals would be able to "talk John out of the house". He told gardaí he would be willing to go to the house. A garda said he would pass the offer to the scene commander, but Mr Heaney said he was never contacted.