Poll says Lusk post office killings justified

The gardaí were justified in killing two post office raiders in Lusk, Co Dublin, last month, according to an opinion poll published this morning.

Colm Griffin, aged 33, and 24-year-old Eric Hopkins were shot dead by armed gardaí who were lying in wait when a gang tried to rob the local post office.

More than 70% of respondents to The Irish Times poll said they believed the shootings were justified, despite the fact that only one of the dead raiders was armed.

Just 17% said they did not believe the shootings were justified, with support for the gardaí's action lowest among young people, people in Munster and Sinn Féin voters.