Criticism of gardaí justified in Carthy case

I AM disappointed by the reaction of the gardaí to the report on the killing of John Carthy.

An indignant Commissioner Conway said he took any criticism of the gardaí “very seriously”.

Perhaps if the gardaí at the scene had dealt with Mr Carthy in a more professional manner, the Commissioner would not be so discommoded by criticism of the force.

Garda spokespeople have highlighted the fact many officers on the scene had no special training in dealing with a person with mental health difficulties and had only fatal weapons to hand. Surrounding the house like something out of a Rambo movie made the situation more dangerous.

The men in the line of fire of Mr Carthy, when he emerged from the house, weren’t even meant to be at the scene.

If they hadn’t been in danger, the garda would not have had to shoot Mr Carthy. Simple logic would suggest while Mr Carthy was in the house, the only person at any risk was himself.

To try and defend the situation by saying “hindsight is 20:20” is a lame argument.

For the gardaí to fail to admit this just leaves the force in the situation of losing even more support from the public.

Roughan Mac Namara

3 Percy Place

Ballsbridge

Dublin 4