Witnesses called for Abbeylara Tribunal

MORE than 200 witnesses have given statements to the Abbeylara Tribunal which is due to begin hearings into the fatal shooting of John Carthy at the end of next month.

Over 40 of the witnesses applied for legal representation at a preliminary sitting of the tribunal in the High Court yesterday, including Mr Carthy’s mother and sister, Mrs Rose and Ms Marie Carthy; his two GPs and his psychiatrist, the Garda Commissioner Pat Byrne and 36 other gardai and Emergency Response Unit (ERU) members up to the rank of inspector.

Tribunal chairman Justice Robert Barr will rule on the applications this Friday but said he would hear further applications as the inquiry progressed if issues arose that carried implications for other existing or prospective witnesses.