Abbeylara witnesses to seek legal representation

The High Court will hear applications for legal representation on behalf of witnesses in the Abbeylara inquiry later this morning.

The judicial inquiry headed by Justice Thomas Barr will investigate the circumstances in which 27-year-old John Carthy was shot dead by a Garda unit following a siege at Abbeylara, Co Longford in April, 2000.

He was gunned down by the Garda Emergency Response Unit following a 25-hour siege at his home.

Attempts by the Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee to investigate the matter came to an unexpected stop when legal arguments stated that the nature of the inquiry would put the lives of the Gardai involved at risk.

Thomas Barr will also make a formal statement about the nature of the investigation.

The inquiry gets underway in Longford before moving to Dublin later this month until its conclusion.