THE MAN WHO shot dead Garda Tony Golden at a house in Omeath, Co Louth yesterday, was 24-year-old Adrian Crevan Mackin.
At about 6pm yesterday evening Garda Golden called to the house to investigate a report of a domestic disturbance. He apparently was met by Mackin brandishing a handgun who shot the Garda before turning the gun on himself.
A 21-year-old woman, apparently Mackin’s girlfriend, was also seriously injured in the incident. It’s understood the young woman worked as a hairdresser in nearby Newry, Co Down.
Mackin, a known dissident republican, was from Rostrevor, just east of Newry.
Little is currently known about his personal circumstances. However, aged just 24, he nevertheless had a significant history of trouble with the law.
In July 2012 aged 22 he appeared in court in Newry charged with ‘possessing photos of women having sex with animals’.
The charge suggested that Mackin had been in possession of ’23 extreme pornographic images’. He was granted bail following his appearance.
More recently, on 18 January 2015, Mackin appeared before the Special Criminal Court in Dublin charged with membership of an illegal organisation, specifically the IRA.
This was part of a joint venture between gardaí and the PSNI targetting dissident republican activity in the Newry / Dundalk area.
It’s understood that Mackin was on bail for this particular charge at the time of last night’s incident.
His case was due back before the non-jury court before the end of October.
Mackin’s victim, father-of-three Garda Tony Golden, was today described to TheJournal.ie by local Sinn Féin councillor Jim Loughran as “a very good community Garda, extremely well liked in the area”.
“I spoke to his sergeant this morning and they’re just devastated,” Loughran said.
Garda Golden reportedly approached Mackin’s house at Mullach Alainn in Omeath unarmed and alone.
Given Mackin’s dissident reputation, it is being suggested today that gardaí should not be expected to approach such a situation without backup or with no means of defending themselves.
“It’s not fair that a garda would have to go to something like this alone,” said Loughran.
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