Carthy was drinking on building site
The incident was one of a series in which he clashed with employers and friends and made remarks about shooting people in the two months prior to his death.
The Barr Tribunal heard on February 20, 2000, Mr Carthy’s sister, Marie, was so concerned about him, she had him arrested under the Mental Treatment Act and considered committing him to a psychiatric hospital against his will.
Sgt Mary Ann O’Boyle told the tribunal Mr Carthy had told his sister he would “not be around much longer”.
He was initially annoyed with Sgt O’Boyle and his sister but went quietly to the garda station, co-operated with a GP who was called to examine him and was happy to be released into the care of Marie on a promise he would contact his psychiatrist the next day.
On Saturday, April 15, four days before the siege began, Mr Carthy was back in Abbeylara, helping out Brendan McLoughlin, a plasterer with whom he had previously worked and had a falling out.
He had been in great form when he offered to help Mr McLoughlin the night before but complained as the day wore on that he wanted to be at the pub.
He came to help again on Monday but was pale and in bad humour and left after talking with Mr McLoughlin and his brother, Pat.
That day he failed to show up for work in Longford.
On the Saturday he had also bumped into Larry Boland, owner of the local garden centre, who found him in bad humour because he had no cigarettes. He blamed this on local publican, William Crawford, who had barred him.
On Tuesday, he thumbed a lift from electrician John Scally, and made remarks about Mr Scally’s employer, Niall Enright, and another local employer, Pat the Baker.
The same day, he phoned Connellan Solicitors in Longford and asked to speak to Mark Connellan who was away on holidays. He seemed distressed and anxious but refused an offer to speak to someone else.
The following day, Wednesday, April 19, the siege began at his home and he was shot dead by garda marksmen on April 20.
Pat McLoughlin told the tribunal the shooting of Mr Carthy had left him and many other local people distraught and he said counselling should have been offered to the village.
