John Carthy - Garda reform would be his monument

THE manner in which the country’s top garda has finally apologised to the family of John Carthy for shooting him dead in the Abbeylara siege six years ago is less than edifying.

Instead of coming out and apologising publicly, as no doubt he should have done, Commissioner Noel

Conroy has said he was sorry in a letter to the dead man’s family.

While the letter, delivered by hand over a fortnight ago, makes clear that Commissioner Conroy and the force were “truly apologetic”, it is clear this was influenced by Justice Minister Michael McDowell’s public assurance that a garda apology would be made.

The minister also apologised after garda handling of the fatal siege was strongly criticised in the Barr report.

If the gardaí honour the commissioner’s pledge to the family that all recommendations of Justice Barr’s report will be implemented, it will be a monument to John Carthy’s memory.