High Court challenge to Abbeylara inquiry

Lawyers for gardai involved in the shooting dead of John Carthy in Abbeylara are going to the High Court this afternoon to begin a challenge to the Oireachteas Committee investigating the incident.

This afternoon's move by lawyers for nine members of the emergency response unit is not unexpected.

During the first stage of the Oireachteas Committee's inquiry, lawyers for the ERU objected to the committee's plans to call the specialist gardai to give evidence.

The ERU members say they would be prepared to give evidence in what they call a proper setting of a judicial inquiry, but not in the political forum of the Oireachteas Committtee.

Politicians will be watching the courts closely for what is the start of a head-on challenge to the authority of the Oireachteas Committee.