Armed criminals were warned today that the Garda will take all measures necessary to protect public safety after a detective shot dead two post office raiders.
Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy said: "Criminals can expect, if they continue to go about committing crimes with firearms, that the Gardai will react to ensure that public safety is our number one priority," he said.
At the launch of a survey on drink driving, he said he regretted any loss of innocent life, be it "criminals, innocent people or Gardai".
"But you realise that when people go out with arms to carry out a robbery, they are serious about it."
Referring to last week's armed raid on a post office in Lusk Co Dublin, Mr Conroy said the raiders put themselves at risk by carrying firearms. Officers from the Emergency Response Unit were lying in wait for the gang when they attempted to raid the Village Stores last Thursday.
"They went with firearms with a number of bullets in the weapon and it's only natural that the Gardai going to deal with the situation knew when a weapon was pointed at them that their lives were in danger."
Gardai have said that Colm Griffin (33) was pointing a handgun at agarda when he was shot and that the second raider, Eric Hopkins (24) was rushing at an officer.
An inquiry, led by Superintendent Kevin Ludlow, has been set up into the shooting. A third man involved in the raid was arrested and charged with attempted robbery and possession of a firearm.
Gavin Farrelly (27) from Lower Sheriff Street in Dublin's north inner city, is due to appear at Cloverhill District Court on Friday. Two other men and a woman arrested in the aftermath of the raid were released without charge from garda custody last week.
PA