Media told by Garda not to reveal identity of John Carthy

Barr Tribunal: The head of the Garda Press Office, Supt John Farrelly, has said he "probably didn't" ask RTÉ Five Seven Live reporter Mr Niall O'Flynn not to broadcast the name of Mr John Carthy, the man at the centre of the Abbeylara siege.

But Supt Farrelly said he did tell RTÉ security correspondent Paul Reynolds that he did not want the name broadcast. Mr Reynolds denies this.

Mr Carthy's name was broadcast for the first time during the edition of the Five Seven Live radio programme on April 20th, 2000, the second day of the siege. Within 30 minutes the 27-year-old had left his home armed with a shotgun and was shot dead by gardaí.

Supt Farrelly, the officer in charge of managing the media for the Garda at Abbeylara, said he had asked members of the media at the scene not to broadcast Mr Carthy's name during the armed standoff.

In a statement to the tribunal, Mr Reynolds denied this request was made of him.

Questioned by counsel for the Barr tribunal, Mr Michael McGrath SC, Supt Farrelly, who participated in an interview for Five Seven Live, said he did not recall specifically telling Mr O'Flynn that the gardaí did not want Mr Carthy's name broadcast. However, he said he had made Mr Reynolds aware of the request.

Supt Farrelly arrived at Abbeylara at 9.30 p.m. on the evening the siege began. After an initial briefing from colleagues he spoke to members of the press, including TV3 reporter Ms Jenny McCudden, who asked him to participate in a live on-air interview.

Supt Farrelly agreed, but was "very concerned" about the possibility that Mr Carthy's name might be released and impressed upon her and the other journalists present the importance of preserving his anonymity. No one from RTÉ was at the scene at this time.

"It was always my view that the possibility was he (Mr Carthy) could have been listening. I have no evidence to say that he was and I have no evidence to say that he wasn't," Supt Farrelly said.

He said that the following morning he spoke to Mr Reynolds and told him that the gardaí were not releasing Mr Carthy's name. However, he said he probably would have been more direct with Ms McCudden because of "her lack of experience", he said.

"I would have had a different type of relationship with Mr Reynolds. He is a security correspondent and would have had a greater understanding of the workings of the Garda Síochána. I wouldn't have had to have a lengthy conversation with him."

Supt Farrelly said he did not recall the specifics of the conversation with Mr Reynolds, but believed the reporter said, "you're not naming him are you?" and he would have confirmed this.

"I know I did say it to him in some form or fashion ... I think John Carthy would have been named and could have been named if I hadn't asked him not to, and I am convinced I did."

Mr Reynolds, who attended the tribunal yesterday and is due to appear as a witness at a later date, said in his statement, read by Mr McGrath, that he did not recall Supt Farrelly or any other Garda asking him not to name Mr Carthy.

Mr Reynolds said that he discussed the matter with a news editor in RTÉ and decided himself that it was not appropriate to broadcast Mr Carthy's name.

Supt Farrelly said he agreed to allow Mr O'Flynn, who was at the scene, to set up an interview with Five Seven Live presenter Mr Myles Dungan. Mr Dungan named Mr Carthy during the interview with Supt Farrelly.

Supt Farrelly said he was very annoyed and made this known to Mr Reynolds after he left the RTÉ broadcasting van.