Garda killers will serve 40 years in jail, vows Shatter

Justice Minister Alan Shatter said he was “determined” to see the killers of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe brought before the courts and, if convicted, serve 40 years without remission.

Mr Shatter visited Dundalk Garda Station yesterday and spoke to Detective Garda Joe Ryan, who has returned to work. He had a gun put to his head by the raiders after they murdered his colleague on Friday at Lordship Credit Union.

Mr Shatter dismissed comments from PJ Stone, the general secretary of the Garda Representative Association, who said young gardaí will be living in “fear and trepidation”.

Mr Stone said gardaí were not getting the support of the Government, who he accused of “dismantling” the force. He said Mr Shatter and the Garda Commissioner needed to provide “assurances”.

Mr Shatter said Mr Stone’s criticisms were “issues for another day” and had nothing to do with the murder.

Speaking on RTÉ radio, Mr Shatter said it was “probable” that a car found partially burnt out in south Armagh on Sunday was the gang’s getaway car. He said it was not yet known if the killers were “engaged simply in organised crime” or if they were some group of “criminal terrorists who fly the Tricolour as a flag of convenience”.

Mr Shatter said he shared the views of Ann McCabe, wife of Garda Jerry McCabe, shot dead by the IRA in 1996, who said killers of gardaí must serve a mandatory sentence of 40 years.

“I would share that view,” said Mr Shatter. “That is the position: the current law provides the murder of a guard will result in a sentence of 40 years.

“It must be absolutely clear anybody who murders a member of An Garda Síochána, to any individual who is part of planning to murder a member of An Garda Síochána, and convicted of homicide, that there is a clear and unambiguous legislative provision in our code that prescribes a sentence of 40 years.”

He said such killers attack not only the individual garda, but also the entire force and the State.

Mr Shatter said the murder was a “cruel, callous and brutal act”. “This terrible tragedy took place not because of any issue surrounding resources or reform. It took place because, unfortunately, we have bad people, intent on criminality, people with no respect for human life.”

Advic, which represents the families of homicide victims, also backed Ms McCabe’s call.