Post office raid inquest opens

An inquest into the deaths of two men killed during a foiled post office raid in Lusk, Co Dublin, two years ago will open today.

Eric Hopkins, 24, and Colm Griffin, 33, were shot dead when gardaí intercepted them during an attempted robbery on May 26 2005.

The men, both from Dublin’s north inner city, were part of a five-man gang carrying out the raid.

Armed detectives had been lying in wait.

Earlier this year the Dublin City Coroner Dr Brian Farrell found in favour of an application by the state to have certain officers’ identities, including the two detectives who shot the men, concealed from the public for security reasons.

They will give evidence at the inquest from behind a screen.

Last May, Gavin Farrelly, 35, of Lower Sheriff Street, Dublin, received a 10-year sentence for the attempted robbery and related offences.