Assailants accused of shooting Garda Brian Hanrahan charged

Two brothers suspected of shooting and robbing garda Brian Hanrahan (30) on the morning of January 27th while he was on holiday in the United States have been charged with attempted second-degree murder and armed robbery, according to New Orleans police.

Melvin P Galle jnr (40) and his brother Keith M Galle (33) are being held in the Orleans Parish Prison in New Orleans.

Mr Hanrahan, a married father of one, has been released from hospital. He was recovering at Interim LSU Hospital in the city after reportedly undergoing surgery to remove a bullet from his body. Mr Hanrahan was shot once in the chest and once in the leg, according to police.

Originally from Killenaule in Co Tipperary but stationed at a Garda station in Newcastlewest, Co Limerick, he was visiting New Orleans with his father.

French Quarter

He was found by police at 5.40am on Tuesday, January 27th, lying injured in the driveway of a house on New Orleans Street with multiple gunshot wounds.

The African-American Galle brothers were arrested by police on Laharpe Street in the city at 1.50pm on Tuesday, less than a mile from the scene of the shooting.

The Irish man told police that he met one of the suspects who brought him to the area from the French Quarter, the historical area of the city and a popular tourist nightspot, telling Mr Hanrahan that he knew where they could get a drink.

The victim said that he went to an ATM and withdrew $200 (€175). When they reached the 2200 block of New Orleans Street, about two miles north of the French Quarter, a second man approached Mr Hanrahan and asked him for cash. When Mr Hanrahan refused, the suspect shot him, took his money and fled.

The arrests were made by the violent offenders warrant squad of the New Orleans Police Department and the US Marshals Task Force.

Police had offered a $2,500 reward for information leading to the arrest of the suspects and attributed the apprehension of the men to “solid police work coupled with cooperation from the community.”