Garda identities to be hidden at Lusk death inquest

Gardaí will give evidence from behind a screen during the inquest of two men shot dead by officers during a post office robbery, it emerged today.

The identification of members of An Garda Síochana will be protected for their own personal safety at the hearing, Dublin City Coroner’s Court ruled.

Eric Hopkins and Colm Griffin died from gunshot injuries during a foiled robbery at Lusk Post Office on May 26, 2005.

Griffin, of Canon Lillis Avenue and Hopkins, of Lower Rutland Street, both in Dublin’s north inner city were part of a five-man gang carrying out the raid.

Dublin City Coroner Dr Brian Farrell adjourned the case to be mentioned on July 2 when a full hearing date will be fixed.

The men’s families were in court for the hearing.

Armed detectives had been lying in wait for the gang when they struck the post office in the north Co Dublin village, however no criminal charges have been brought against the officers who inflicted the fatal wounds.

The men’s inquest has been adjourned numerous times over the last two years as criminal proceedings continued against one of the five.

Last month Gavin Farrelly (aged 35) of Lower Sherriff Street, Dublin, was jailed for 10 years for his role in the raid after pleading guilty to attempted robbery.

He also admitted to allowing himself to be carried in a stolen car, which was unregistered and bore false licence plates, on the same day.

Barrister for the gardaí, Fergal Foley, said the Garda Investigation File has been submitted to the coroner’s office in which a number of topics regarding the safety of members had been outlined.

“There are a number of gardaí that we would like, if they are deemed to be suitable or appropriate people to give evidence to the inquest, they could be possibly identified by the letter A, B, C etc, and that their identities be shielded from the general public by some sort of screen,” he said.

“There are certain security matters I have to consider and that’s one of my primary concerns.”

The barrister highlighted concerns that CCTV from the scene, to be shown to the inquest, identified some members and said the image would be pixelated so they could remain anonymous.

He also said some aspects of the garda file could not be put into the public domain to protect Garda procedures.

Mr Foley said security experts from within the force had examined the coroner’s court building and decided it suitable and that screening could be put in place around the witness box.

John Byrne, barrister for the Griffin and Hopkins families, said there was no desire from the families to identify Det Gda A – or others officers – provided they were in court to give evidence during proceedings.

Dr Farrell said a previous case with similar circumstances had set a precedence that gardaí could remain anonymous during an inquest.

In 2000, the Supreme Court upheld a decision by the Dublin City Coroner that during an inquest gardai could be identified by letters and give evidence behind a screen to the coroner, a jury, and the deceased’s lawyers.

The landmark ruling was made in relation to the death of John Morris, who was killed during a raid at an industrial estate in Inchicore, Dublin, three years previously.