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3 May 2017

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Taoiseach sidesteps Dáil call by Gerry Adams for public inquiry into killing of garda by alleged agent

● Facing questioning on the Crevan Mackin case – Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald, Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Garda Commissioner Noirín O’Sullivan


THE refusal of the Taoiseach in the Dáil to answer the call of a victim’s family for a public inquiry into the murder in October 2015 of Garda Tony Golden and the serious wounding of Siobhán Phillips in County Louth by a Garda informer has been slated by Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams TD.

Deputy Adams, a TD for Louth, had asked the Taoiseach to support the call by Ms Phillips’s family for an inquiry during Leader’s Questions in the Dáil on Tuesday, the first day back after the Easter recess.

The shootings of Garda Golden and Ms Phillips were carried out by Siobhán’s partner, Adrian Crevan Mackin.

Siobhán had asked Garda Golden to help her collect some belongings from their home after reporting ongoing domestic abuse. Following his killing of Garda Golden and seriously wounding his partner, Mackin took his own life with the handgun he had used – one of several that Garda detectives knew he had access to.

2017 Garda agent Crevan Mackin

Read the background to this story here.

In the Dáil on Tuesday afternoon, Gerry Adams raised with the Taoiseach several letters he has sent to him, Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald and Garda Commissioner Noirín O’Sullivan over the last 18 months.

The Sinn Féin leader also noted allegations made in a recent RTÉ Primetime programme about the events of October 2015 and the Garda’s reported use of Mackin to try and infiltrate what the mainstrean media calls “dissident republican” groups.

Speaking following a frustrating exchange in the Dáil with the Taoiseach, Gerry Adams TD said:

“It is alleged that Crevan Mackin was acting as a Garda agent after agreeing to a deal to avoid firearms offences and that some members of An Garda Síochána knew that he had access to weapons when he was released on bail.

 “The best way of getting to the truth is for the Taoiseach to establish a public inquiry, as has been called for by the family of Siobhán Phillips.

“It is important that any investigative process initiated allows for criminal charges should that need arise.”

Gerry Adams said the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) investigation that the Taoiseach is hiding behind as an excuse for not holding an inquiry will not allow for this.

He said the Taoiseach has now refused to commit to establishing an inquiry “that would ensure that all of the truth comes out”.

The Louth TD nevertheless welcomed the GSOC probe but he has “major concerns” that its designation as a Section 95 investigation that only allows for disciplinary action to be taken against gardaí may not see all the issues examined properly.

“I told the Taoiseach that the family of Siobhán Phillips share those concerns,” Gerry Adams said.

“That is not acceptable given the weight of allegations in this case, and it is my firm view that a criminal investigation is required.”

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