Video footage that shows the shooting dead of two armed men by gardaí during an attempted post office raid in Lusk, Co Dublin, in May 2005 will have to be masked to protect the anonymity of the gardaí involved, an inquest has heard.
The full inquest into the death of Dublin men Colm Griffin (33) and Eric Hopkins (24), shot dead at the scene of the attempted robbery, may not proceed for two years. Criminal proceedings in relation to the attempted armed raid are currently before the criminal courts. Gavin Farrelly (28), Lr Sheriff Street, Dublin, has been charged with possession of a firearm; attempted robbery and unlawful use of a car. John Byrne, for the Hopkins and Griffin families, said it could be two years before these proceedings have concluded.
In May, Supt Joseph Kelly requested an adjournment of the joint inquest into the mens' deaths as criminal proceedings in relation to the incident were before the courts. No inquest can proceed while criminal charges in relation to the deaths are before the criminal courts. Mr Byrne strongly opposed the requested adjournment yesterday saying, "criminal proceedings are in relation to the incident, not the deaths . . . He's not charged with any homicide offence".
Fergal Foley, for the Chief State Solicitor's Office, said the adjournment was necessary because the man facing criminal charges in relation to the incident would most likely be called to give evidence at the inquest. Mr Foley stressed that extreme care must be taken at the inquest to protect the identity of the gardaí involved in foiling the attempted raid. "Nothing should be done to disclose the sources of information the gardaí had and to preserve the anonymity of the gardaí involved in the unfortunate shooting incident. Video footage is going to have to be masked to protect the identity of the gardaí involved . . . Quite a level of care has to be taken in relation to disclosure."
Coroner Dr Brian Farrell adjourned the inquest to consider the "unprecedented application" not to proceed with the inquest until the criminal proceedings in relation to the incident were concluded.