Madam, - I am writing to express my disappointment with the reaction of the Garda to the report on the killing of John Carthy. An indignant Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy said he took any criticism of the Garda "very seriously".
Perhaps if the Garda at the scene had dealt with John Carthy situation in a more professional manner the Commissioner would not be in the position where he is so discommoded by criticism of the force.
Garda spokespeople have highlighted the fact many officers on the scene had no special training in dealing with a person with mental health difficulties and had only fatal weapons to hand.
Even the man in the street would know that by surrounding the house like something out of a Rambo movie the situation was immediately made more dangerous. The men in the line of fire of John Carthy when he emerged from the house weren't even meant to be at the scene.
If they hadn't been in danger the Garda would not have had to shoot Mr Carthy. Simple logic would suggest while John was in the house the only person at any risk was himself.
The Garda should have cleared the scene, contained the situation with six to eight armed men at a distance and contacted John's GP for a briefing on his state of mind.
They could have also used the opportunity of giving him cigarettes to build a relationship and trust with him which would have hopefully led to a peaceful outcome.
To try and defend the situation by saying "Hindsight is 20 20" is a lame argument. Even the dogs in the street can see the Garda response and numbers around the house on the day acted to inflame the situation instead of resolving it.
The Garda's initial response smacks of the arrogance of Minister for Justice Michael McDowell whom rank and file gardaí are only to ready to criticise for such behaviour. One can only hope a more considered response will be forthcoming from the force in time. - Yours, etc,
ROUGHAN MACNAMARA, Percy Place, Dublin 4.