Killers will be brought to justice, vows Garda chief

Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan has said the force will bring the killers of Det Garda Adrian Donohoe to justice. Its resolve has been strengthened by the show of public support since he was shot dead last Friday night, he added.

Garda sources say more than 100 members were working on the investigation and would remain on the case. Asst Commissioner Derek Byrne, senior officer in charge of national support services, has taken charge of it.

A quantity of CCTV footage from the roads leading in and out of the crime scene at the Lordship Credit Union in Co Louth has been collected

Further images have also been gathered from around the county in an effort to track the movements of a black 08 D Volkswagen Passat car stolen three days before the murder in Clogherhead and used in the robbery attempt in which Det Garda Donohoe was shot in the head and killed.

‘Extra manpower’

“A lot of extra manpower has been drafted in, including people from specialist units to get through all of the CCTV,” said one source.

Others said the investigation would remain intensive and be a priority for the force for as long as it took to secure convictions. They said it was similar to the investigation into the murder of Veronica Guerin in 1996.

Det Garda Donohoe was buried in Lordship cemetery on the Cooley peninsula yesterday after his funeral Mass.

The commissioner told mourners at the State funeral that the murder investigation was a determined one.

“We, Adrian’s colleagues, are committed to ensuring that we bring the perpetrators responsible for this callous crime to justice.

‘Sense of loss’

“Our resolve is strengthened by the overwhelming support from the President of Ireland, the Government and members of the public.

“No words can adequately express the great sense of loss and revulsion felt by the Donohoe family, the family of An Garda Síochána and indeed the wider public in learning about the cold-blooded murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe last Friday night,” he said.

“To the local community in the Dundalk and Cooley peninsula, we are forever in your debt for the outstanding generosity you have shown to the Donohoe family and An Garda Síochána at this most difficult time,” he added.

Among those at the funeral were a large number of Cabinet members.

These included: Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore; Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton; Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Pat Rabbitte; Minister for Health James Reilly and Minister for Agriculture and Food Simon Coveney.

Sinn Féin’s Gerry Adams and Dessie Ellis also attended.