Way negotiators were used was 'inexcusable'

Barr Tribunal: It was "inexcusable" to deploy a Garda negotiator to the siege at Abbeylara who had already been on duty for 12 hours, a former British police negotiator has told the Barr tribunal.

Garda negotiator Det Sgt Michael Jackson and his assistant, Det Sgt Michael Sullivan, had been working from 7 a.m. on the day the siege began and did not come off duty until after Mr Carthy was shot dead, more than 33 hours later.

These men should not have been asked to endure such an excessive tour of duty and it was a mistake for Garda commanders to send them to the scene in the first place, former Det Chief Supt Michael Burdis said.

The scene commanders at Abbeylara, Supt Joseph Shelly and Supt Michael Byrne, seemed to be "overwhelmed" by the force of Det Sgt Jackson's assurance that he was up to the job, but this was not an adequate reason to have the negotiator on duty for so long.

"Excessive hours on duty are not conducive to clear thinking," he said.

The scene commanders should have set up a "negotiation cell" at a location away from the immediate scene, but instead allowed Det Sgt Jackson to choose the negotiation point.

Det Sgt Jackson failed to explore different negotiation tactics, or alternatives to negotiation, throughout the course of the siege. He also failed to ask for assistance, even though the negotiations were not bearing fruit and he had been on duty for an extended time, Mr Burdis said.

"An essential question is: was he too weary to try any new ideas, ploys and tactics, or was he inexperienced . . . I find it inexcusable that Det Sgt Jackson and Det Garda Sullivan were deployed to the incident after already having been on duty for more than 12 hours."