RTÉ has been granted legal representation at the Barr Tribunal investigating the Garda killing of John Carthy in Co Longford three years ago.
The broadcaster had originally been denied the opportunity to have a lawyer present at the proceedings but after a tape recording of a Radio One interview was used in evidence today, Mr Justice Barr today decided the station was entitled to have a legal representative present.
The hearing heard an RTÉ interview today with a neighbour of Mr Carthy, named as Mrs McDowell, who appealed to Mr Carthy to leave the house he had barricaded himself into. It was also the first time Mr Carthy had been publicly named as being at the centre of the siege.
Counsel for the Garda, Mr John Rogers SC, said control of the information flow to the suspect had been lost because of this type of broadcast.
Mr Carthy later emerged with a shotgun and was shot dead.
The tribunal heard evidence last week in which Supt Joseph Shelly said he was aware Mr Carthy had the radio on in the house.
Legal representatives for RTÉ said Mr Rogers contention was hypothetical as it could not be established if Mr Carthy had heard the broadcast, in which Mrs McDowell appealed for him to leave the house.
The tribunal, under the chairmanship of Mr Jutice Barr is investigating the siege at house in Abbeylara, Co Longford, which culminated in the fatal shooting of Mr Carthy by members of the Garda Armed Response Unit on April 20th, 2000.