Taxi driver who fired on gardaí had left behind a suicide note

As the funeral of Limerick taxi driver Anthony McMahon takes place today, it has emerged that prior to opening fire on gardaí on Monday night, he had left a suicide note.

Mr McMahon, 44, grabbed two guns and fired shots at Sergeant Debra Marsh and Garda Gerry Brazil after they stopped his van near Newport, Co Tipperary.

Both narrowly escaped death as Mr McMahon fired two shots from a shotgun and at least three bullets from a powerful .303 rifle.

Garda Brazil managed to wrestle the shotgun from Mr McMahon as he fired off two shots from the weapon.

As he sat in the driver’s seat of his van, he then grabbed the rifle and fired through the windscreen, hitting the patrol car.

Sgt Marsh, who managed to use pepper spray during the confrontation, fell on the roadway as Mr McMahon opened fire with the second gun.

The guns were licensed and Mr McMahon had them for hunting.

A source close to his family said he had been treated for depression in recent months.

After the shooting, a note written by him was discovered at the cottage in Rear Cross where he had moved to from Limerick City, two sources close to the family confirmed.

He was separated and had a teenage son, who he was very close to.

Mr McMahon worked as a taximan in Limerick and also fitted carpets.

He was said to be very hard working.

It is believed that an incident with a customer over a fare recently, had caused him a lot of distress.

When he was stopped by the gardaí after his van was seen being driven erratically, it has now emerged that he was already setting out to end his life, as confirmed by the suicide note.

His funeral Mass will take place this morning at Our Lady of Lourdes church in Janesboro where he lived until he sold the old family home some time ago.