No independent inquiry into Carthy death, says Minister

The full Garda report into the death of Mr John Carthy, shot dead by gardai in Abbeylara, Co Longford, last Thursday, may not be made public. Nor will there be an independent inquiry into his death, the Minister for Justice, Mr O'Donoghue, has confirmed.

Speaking on News At One on RTE radio yesterday, he said the outcome of the Garda investigation would be made public but there could be problems with publishing the full report.

"I want to say that I am determined, and so are the Garda authorities, that all of the circumstances surrounding Mr Carthy's death be fully and publicly established, and that if there are any lessons to be learned from what happened, they will be learned," he said.

However, he added: "There can be difficulties with publishing the actual investigation file itself for legal reasons. But I can assure you that when the facts of the case are established they will be made public."

In any event, he said, there would have to be an inquest where the facts would be brought forward.

Ms Marie Carthy, Mr Carthy's sister, called on Tuesday for a "searching, independent inquiry" into his death. She is understood to have been close to the scene when her brother was shot as he left his home last week.

Mr O'Donoghue said there was no need for an independent inquiry. "I can assure you that the Garda report which is being compiled, and the Garda investigation which is under way, is a very thorough one and there is no question here of anyone trying to hide anything. That is not the position.

"The facts surrounding the death and any issue which arises as a result of the investigation will be brought into the public domain in the Oireachtas or otherwise, and will be addressed fully when we are in a position to appropriately do so."

On the suggestion that non-lethal weapons should be made available to the Garda, he said it would be premature to pre-empt the findings of the report.