THE GARDA COMMISSIONER Martin Callinan has issued a “cry for help” for members of the public with information surrounding the death of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe in Co Louth last night.
Speaking this afternoon, Callinan urged people who may have knowledge about the circumstances surrounding Donohoe’s death, or those who may suspect that others have knowledge of it, to come forward.
“This is a cry for help for An Garda Síochána and for wider society – and indeed society needs to make some choices here,” Callinan told a press briefing at Dundalk Garda Station, where Detective Garda Donohoe was based.
“It is the case that we do need the public’s help and this is an opportunity for those people to come forward,” he said.
Callinan added that he was personally “deeply saddened and shocked” by news of Donohoe’s death, the first time since 1996 that a Garda has been shot and killed on duty.
“All of my officers are deeply shocked and disappointed with what has happened,” the Commissioner said.
The relationship between the public and An Garda Síochána is a very special relationship, it’s a very unique relationship – we are of the community, and from the community, and of course we’re very saddened and shocked by what has happened.”
The call for witnesses to come forward came as Gardaí released details of the events that led to Donohoe’s death last night.
Donohoe and another detective were on cash escort duty at the Lordship Credit Union at Bellurgan, outside Dundalk, at about 9:30pm when a number of armed raiders approached, one of whom shot Donohoe, wounding him fatally.
The armed raiders fled the scene in a dark-coloured saloon car in the direction of Dundalk. The other Detective Garda is said to be traumatised by the incident, but was not physically hurt.
The scene was immediately sealed off and the Deputy State Pathologist, Dr Khalid Jabbar, carried out a preliminary examination at the scene.
Donohoe’s body was later removed from the scene to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda where a full post-mortem examination will take place later today.
A Garda liaison officer has fully briefed Donohoe’s family. Donohoe and his wife, who is also a Garda, had several children.
Gardaí said they were anxious to speak to anyone who was in the Bellurgan, Jenkinstown, Dundalk area between 6pm and 9:30pm last night, and also anyone who may have seen the dark-coloured saloon car driving towards Dundalk – or possibly the M1 – during the assailants’ getaway.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the incident room at Dundalk Garda Station at (042) 9388470, the Garda Confidential line at 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.
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