CCTV footage used in hunt for garda killers

Police on both sides of the border are using CCTV footage and witness statement to trace the movement of the car used by the killers of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe.

Gardaí believe the car found partially burnt out in a rural part of south Armagh was the getaway vehicle used by the gang and are awaiting results of forensic tests.

Experienced detectives still can’t understand why the gang used such extreme violence against a garda instead of injuring or incapacitating him — in a situation where he was not posing a threat and hadn’t drawn his weapon.

Detectives were yesterday trying to gather further descriptions of the gang members from Garda Donohoe’s colleague, Det Gda Joe Ryan, and staff from the Lordship Credit Union near Dundalk who witnessed the violence.

They were all deeply traumatised by the attack which was over in a matter of seconds. Gardaí suspect there might have been five raiders involved.

It emerged yesterday that the two detectives were escorting a cash collection from four credit unions in the area for delivery to a night safe in a Dundalk bank. The run has been operating for years.

The detectives pulled into the car park adjoining the credit union at 9.30pm last Friday where staff were due to collect cash from the Lordship branch. When they drove in, a vehicle in the car park closed off the exit.

Garda Donohoe alighted from the passenger door to inquire about the other vehicle. But as he turned he was shot in the head by a blast from a shotgun.

This gunman is then thought to have pointed the weapon at Gda Ryan, took the car keys and ordered him not to move.

The raider with the hammer went to a car occupied by a credit union staff member, smashed a window and grabbed some of the money, estimated at €4,000. It is thought around €40,000 was left behind.

The car, described as “dark coloured”, sped from the scene towards the Ravensdale Roundabout in the direction of Dundalk close to the M1 motorway.

Officers suspect it went across the border, a suspicion confirmed when a car was found burned out on Sunday morning in South Armagh. The Volkswagen Passat was dumped at Darkley, on the Keady to Newtownhamilton Road.

Gardaí are investigating if the same gang was behind a robbery at Lordship Credit Union in August 2011 when they escaped with €62,000.

Gardaí yesterday appealed to anyone who saw suspicious activity around the credit union between 6.30pm and 9.30pm to contact them.

* Contact Dundalk Garda Station (042-9388400), the Garda Confidential Line (1800 666 111) or PSNI (048 90 650222).