Appeal over items from murder scene of garda

Gardaí have released information about a distinctive hammer found at the scene of the murder of Det Garda Adrian Donohoe and a description of a child’s seat that was in the getaway car. Replicas of the two items were put on display by gardaí in Dublin yesterday in the hope they would prompt witnesses to come forward.

Crimestoppers has also offered a five-figure sum for information that helps to solve the case. That is in addition to the €50,000 pledged by the Irish League of Credit Unions.

Witnesses sought

Assistant Garda Commissioner Kieran Kenny said one person fired the fatal shot, but a number of people have vital information. “I would ask them to reflect on the impact that Adrian’s death has had on the family, the Garda and the community where he lived and served. I would appeal to anybody who has information to contact us.” He denied reports the murder inquiry had been scaled back.

Supt Gerry Curley of Dundalk Garda station, where the investigation is headquartered and where the dead man was based, said someone may be missing the hammer or may have seen the child’s seat.

The hammer was found at Lordship Credit Union, Bellurgan, Co Louth. Used to smash the window of a car from which €4,000 was taken, it is described as a precision mallet-type hammer. It has a red-and-black handle and a soft black section to one half of the head. The other half of the head is usually a see-through yellow glass-type section, but on this one that section of yellow is missing and a pin protrudes from the head. Such hammers are used in the motor trade, usually by panel beaters.

The car seat was in the graphite blue VW Passat 08 D car used by the gang when it was stolen during a burglary in Clogherhead, Co Louth, between 11.30pm on Tuesday, January 22nd and 4.30am on Wednesday, January 23rd.

The car was found burned out at 10.30pm on January 25th, an hour after Det Garda Donohoe was shot dead. It was found north of the Border at Cumsons Road, Newtownhamilton, Co Armagh, and the PSNI has appealed for anybody with information to come forward.

Baby seat

The Cosatto baby seat has a luminous green trim, with a black or grey seat and cream inset with “little monster” designs throughout. Gardaí have asked anyone who may have seen the seat, may have been asked to buy it, or was offered it as a gift to contact Crimestoppers or gardaí in Dundalk.

Det Garda Donohoe was shot in the head as he and his partner were about to provide an armed escort for the movement of money from the Lordship Credit Union into Dundalk.