O’Toole says Gardaí must learn lessons from Abbeylara

The new Head of the Garda Inspectorate has said it is important that the force learns lessons from the killing of John Carthy in Abbeylara, Co Longford, six years ago.

The 27-year-old, who suffered from depression, was shot dead by armed gardaí following a 24-hour siege at his home in April 2000.

Kathleen O'Toole, the former US police official appointed to head the Garda Inspectorate, said today that she would be studying the recent report into the incident carefully and ensure it was acted upon properly.

She was speaking at the announcement of two more members of the Inspectorate - former Mineapolis police chief Robert Olson and former Ontario police commissioner Gwen Boniface.