Abbeylara lessons not learnt - Gort man critical after being shot by Garda with live round

by For your information Thu Oct 12, 2006 11:29

"A .22 Bolt action would bring a Person down in a non-fatal manner."

It depends on where the bullet strikes.
A .22 could kill someone just as easily as a .308 depending on the region the bullet hits.

by #6 - lfc Thu Oct 12, 2006 01:42

Dear man in the street.
I know what i'm talkin about.
bye bye.

by The Man On the Street Wed Oct 11, 2006 20:43

Dear readers,
Today's lesson is in the nonsense that is often written under the rubric of "common sense". It's a good idea to have a think about things before writing them. So for example:

Common sense.

This Weapon's ejection is upwards and to the right. It therefore draws the weapon in that direction.

Common sense would suggest that the weapon would be moved downwards and to the left, if indeed your description is accurate.

by number 6 - legalise freedom campaign Wed Oct 11, 2006 20:26

Thank you for that Abbylara coverage, you were obviously there.

I believe a Superintendant Hickey ( now retired ) was also present.

Essentially , John Carthy was gunned down with a high powered sub-machine Gun. An uzi s.m.g. with a cycle rate of fire of 600 UNCONTROLABLE rounds PER MINUTE.

This was a most inappropriate Firearm to use in such a situation.

Common sense.

This Weapon's ejection is upwards and to the right. It therefore draws the weapon in that direction. It is almost impossible to control such a Weapon for a clear and single shot. S.M.G.s -SUB-MACHINE GUNS ARE USED FOR 'CLOSE QUARTER FIRING'.

In plain language it means. The operator sprays a House or similar with this automatic spray of rounds to make sure that all targets are hit.
This was not the situation in Abbylara.

A .22 Bolt action would bring a Person down in a non-fatal manner.
No need for the ERU.

John Carthy was also shot in THE BACK , with an automatic weapon , an UZI Sub Machine Gun.

That , is against Regulations.

by For your information Wed Oct 11, 2006 12:00

Around 4 pm on the afternoon of Wednesday 19th April 2000, John Carthy had a row with his mother, Rose, possibly because she was concerned about his excessive drinking and his failure to hold down a job. Carthy was tormented since the death of his father exactly ten years before by recurring bouts of depression and mental illness, the traumatic breakup of his relationship with his girlfriend, the local garda investigation into the burning of a goat mascot in which he was the suspect and the the merciless but playful slagging he recieved from friends, workmates and locals. He fired several random gun shots outside and his mother fled in terror to a neighbour's house after he told her she had better go there.
Local gardai were called among them officers who had detained Carthy as a suspect in the arson case. During the first approach to the house two shots were fired and the gardai quickly retreated in the vehicle.
A second approach was made by other local gardai along with Dr Cullen, Carthy's GP during which a garda car drove through the gate and parked in the drive of Cathy's house. Carthy fired and this time struck the front left wing of the garda car and the gardai and Dr Cullen retreated. The car was abandoned.
Senior officers among the Supt. Shelly, Supt. Byrne and Supt. Tansey arrived later and back up from other local stations including armed detectives and others certified to bear arms.
The outer cordon consisting of checkpoints of unarmed gardai sealed the road from both directions and others took up positions in the surrounding fields to prevent intruders and media people from approaching the house endangering themselves and to prevent Carthy from escaping from the house.
The inner cordon was formed by armed local gardai who encircled the house until the arrival of ERU members who were trained to deal with tactical situations.
The armed detectives who initially recced the house retreated when Carthy broke the windows and fired in all directions.
At first Supt Shelly, before the arrival of the ERU, attempted to negotiate with Carthy by loudhailer from the roadway at an ESB pole and boundary ditch at right angle to the road which gave cover from the kitchen window in the gable of the old house where Carthy was holding out still armed with his shot gun.
Carthy responded with abuse and random gunshots fired from the windows of the house.
Friends of Carthy throughout the evening and into the night were brought to the loudhailer to try and talk Carthy down but were also met with abuse and more shots were fired at random.
Michael Jackson, became the ERU negotiator at the scene upon the arrival of his unit. Among the other officers was Eugene McCabe.
The concern was that Carthy would harm himself and members of his family, friends, neighbours and locals if he ran amok with his shotgun. Carthy's mother was terrified that he would shoot her.
The ERU unit surrounded the house from three sides.
One group took up position in the new house that had been built to the right of the old house where Carthy was positioned. Another took up postion at the rear of the Carthy home where there was an earth mound. Jackson took up position behind a pillar in the front boundary wall directly across from the kitchen gable window. Another officer took postion to Jackson's left behind a boundary pillar at the corner of the wall marking the edge of the Carthy property and a neighbours property. Another officer to Jackson's right took up position at the ESB pole and boundary ditch to the right of Carthy's gateway.
The area inside the boundary wall provided no cover from Carthy's position in the kitchen gable window.
Jackson attempted to communicate with Carthy through the evening, into the night and until morning by loudhailer. Carthy responded by firing at the wall forcing the ERU to take cover. Typically he told called them "Free State Bastards" and told them to "Fuck off." He taunted them to "shoot me" or "to come in here and get me." Jackson tried to reason with Carthy, saying they had no intention of coming in and getting him and that he could come out give up his gun and he would get help for his mental illness. Farrell, a friend, promised him he would get work as a plasterer, Pepper, another friend, tried to get him to think about the good times and how in a few weeks they would be laughing about the whole incident over a pint.
Jackson tried to make Carthy consider how much his family loved him especially his mother and sister. Carthy told them all to "Fuck off" and fired his gun at the wall to keep their heads down
Because Carthy had wanted to speak to Pepper, Farrell and other friends and neighbours they were brought to the loudhailer at the ESB pole to talk to him but were also met with abuse.
Repeated phonecalls on the landline and Carthy's mobile by Jackson and his sister Marie Carthy were also fruitless.
Carthy rang a friend by the name of Ireland who drove a truck in Galway on the evening of the 19th.
Carthy was asked by Ireland what he was going to do. He appeared rational at this stage and said he had no intention to hurt anyone and wanted Ireland to contact a republican solicitor named Finucane - there was an apprentice solicitor of that name in Dublin the son of a prominent solicitor who had been murdered by loyalists aided by British intelligence who had appeared in television interviews in relation to the death of his father. Ireland made Gardai aware Carthy had phoned him but there was much confusion over the identity of "Finucane."
Gardai were also not made aware by the Carthy family or failed to discover that John Carthy had an appointment to meet a psychiatrist, Dr. Shanley in Dublin on Apirl 20th.
Carthy had demanded from Jackson that he wanted the solicitor to come into the house to talk to him.
Jackson refused to allow this because Carthy was armed with a shotgun, had fired at people and the solicitor would be in lethal danger.
No doubt a psychiatrist would have been in danger had he attempted approached Carthy also.
Attempts to reason with Carthy and meet him "half way" were met with "Fuck off" and more gunshots.
Carthy was observed to smirk and laugh as if he was enjoying firing at the Gardai as they peeked over the wall.
Carthy also called for cigarettes but no garda could possibly approach and/or was willing to approach the house to give him the cigarettes while Carthy was armed and firing his gun.
During the night when Carthy was asleep it was advised not to attempt a forced entry because the narrow doorway to the house was a "choke point". Officers would have been exposed to fire had Carthy been roused and would have been forced to use their weapons to defend themselves and injure or kill Carthy.
At all times the gardai sought to end the siege peacefully.
During the night Marie Carthy attempted to pass through the cordon and speak to John.
John at no time had sought to speak to her.
Jackson felt allowing Marie to speak to him would have been a suprise and a breech of trust and would have endangered her.
Marie Carthy was visibly drunk according to the officers at the scene who were forced to restrain her.
She was put sitting in the command vehicle where she calmed down.
Marie Carthy has denied she was drunk but it has been admitted by other witnesses that she and family and friends were drinking whiskey during the seige because of the emotional pressure.
In the morning Carthy continued to fire at Gardai, he struck Jackson's loudhailer and knocked a concrete block off the wall where it had been placed by Jackson to allow him to stand under cover. The block struck Jackson as it fell off the wall.
Carthy smashed all the windows in the house and attacked the furniture.
He was observed mumbling to himself and at one stage shouted "Why?Why?Why?"
Shortly before 6pm on the evening of Thursay 20th April, wearing a blue padded jacket and armed with the Russian double barrelled shot gun, John Carthy emerged from the front door of the house, turned left around the corner of the gable kitchen wall and marched across the drive toward the gateway of the boundary wall. The gun was broken open so the gardai including Jackson behind the wall did not open fire as he passed them from left to right.
Russell, an officer taking cover in the new house situated within meters of the old Carthy home ran out the door ran diagonally across the gardan jumped into a standing position on the wall to the left of the gateway followed by two other officers from inside the new house who trained their weapons on Carthy as he emerged onto the road. Carthy turned his head and looked at Jackson, he drew a live cartridge from one of the barrels of the gun and tossed it in the grass verge before closing the gun with another cartridge in the chamber.
Jackson and two other officers behind the boundary wall to the right of the gate stood up armed with their weapons and followed Carthy as he walked briskly up the hill toward the direction of Abbeylara toward the command vehicle and patrol cars. Marie Carthy was seated in one of the cars.
Further up the road many gardai both armed and unarmed were standing manning the outer cordon. They began to flee leaping over the garden walls of neighbouring houses as Carthy advanced. Two gardai took cover behind the command vehicle and pointed their weapons at Carthy.
They could see the three ERU including Jackson on the road behind Carthy and were terrified that Carthy was about to fire and that if they opened fire they would hit their colleagues.
"Armed Gardai, drop the gun!" the officers shouted repeatedly. Carthy ignored them.
Jackson could see Carthy had the butt of the gun into his right elbow, his right hand on the trigger and his left hand gripping the front of the barrell. Jackson believed Carthy was about to kill or injure the people in his path.
Jackson shot Carthy twice in the upper left leg with his Sig pistol. When Jackson fired he saw the cloth of his trouser leg flicker with the first impact and was not sure if he missed with the second. Carthy had indeed been hit but both bullets had caused flesh wounds and he continued to advance on the outer cordon.
Eugene McCabe fired two shots with his Uzi submachine gun. Both bullets hit Carthy in the lower back.
The first bullet passed through Carthy's pelvis and exited through his genitals. Presumably at this time the bullet travelled downward and wounded Carthy in the calf.
The second bullet travelled upward and passed through Carthy's heart and exited the front of his chest.
Carthy spun around and faced Jackson before he fell to the ground on his back and rolled on his right side.
McCabe moved in stood on Carthy's foot and kicked the shot gun away from his body.
Carthy was bleeding out rapidly onto the roadway.
Two ERU officers performed mouth to mouth and massaged his chest as the ambulance was summoned to the scene.
But John Carthy was dead.

by number 6 - legalise freedom campaign Wed Oct 11, 2006 10:55

Dear Barney. It is not unusual for a trained Firearms Person to hit a 4"Target at 200 yards. A Bolt action is required , as an SLR or similar will eject up and to the right thereby pulling the Firearm in that direction. Not good for accuracy.

Ask some Army head or other.

From what I read in the Papers , this Man was hit with a large calibre .308. That would take down an Elephant.

A Shotgun is not lethal beyond It's effective Range. I do not believe Gardai would be that stupid enough to stand in front of a Shotgun as you suggested I should. I think we all know the effects of that.

A .308 can kill you at a mile. A little bit like a Cannon. This was not necessary.
So, please stop protecting disproportionate measures.

Firearms lesson over for today.

by rem Wed Oct 11, 2006 01:54

I was intrigue to hear the GardaI Rep on Primetime make a point of using the phrase less-lethal for the bean-bag shot rather then non-lethal which Miriam O' C refferred to it even after he had used the other phrase. RTE and TCM have been using phrase non-lethal too which as we all know is a lie.

by Kevin T. Walsh - Social Justice and anitics. Wed Oct 11, 2006 01:26

Newswire Moderator's Note: First three paragraphs edited out for abuse. We call it 'trolling' (i.e., playing the player, not the ball).

Patty you mention the Gardai are involved in four serious issues. Let's go.

Abbeylara, you mentioned. John Carthy. A bipolar man which means suffering from manic depression. His mother phoned the Gardai for help. They came and shot her son dead. Do we have to mention Donegal Patty and the massive scale of corruption, deceit, wife beating and extortion.

Patty will we mention the Rossiter boy in Clonmel who was allegedly beaten to death - age 15.

And then the Wheelock boy from Summerhill, allegedly beaten to death in Store Street Station. The cell was redocorated in 48 hours - no doubt to exclude DNA testing.

And Patty, Do you remember Robocop who excessively used his baton on young people at a Street Festival. I will never forget the hate in his eyes. This was adrenalin spurned on by pure power. Sad but true.

The two sisters on Henry Street who were sat on, and spat on, at Store Street Gardai Station - who received an apology and Euros 58,000 compensation from the Gardai Siochana, the State and the Irish taxpayer.

Now Patty I come from a family with some members in An Gardai Siochana and I despise the disrespect for the Irish citizen.

Many years ago, Patty, a man out of desperation for his family stole a pension book at Shercock, Co. Cavan. He was arrested by Detective Sieargent Martin Gordon at the time. (A Garda from Mayo who now resides in New York ) - the beating that night in the station at Shercock resulted in the prisoner's death the following day. He had sustained a busted spleen. Jordan got a 5 year sentence suspended and now drives a taxi in Limerick City.

I could go on all night on the Police Force as you call them but Patty, you have to earn the respect of the people of Ireland to serve in a uniform that people died for, in the name of Democracy and that is the right of the Irish citizen of Ireland including Mr. Burke who was shot last night in Gort. The Gardai dismissed the Barr Report with ignorance and arrogance and they are out of control, of a pathetic 'lack of Ethics' Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Mr. McDowell.

So Patty - Shame on you for calling these gombeens heros, everyday as you say. O yes, there are some decent Gardai but there is an element of thuggery ignored from within.

Tonight I will close by saying 'Think of two Mothers, the mother of the young Rossiter boy in Clonmel and the Mother of the Wheelock boy in Summerhill. I praise the rights of freedom like Gandhi, Mandela and many others.

Kevin T. Walsh

Claude Monet (1840-1926) Artist
'When it is dark, it seems to me as if I were dying, And, I can't think anymore'

by number 6 - legalise freedom Campaign Wed Oct 11, 2006 00:59

Well Gerri, one can't believe ALL the lies there told.

by gerri Tue Oct 10, 2006 23:54

well - the man who was shot seems to have only been shot after all available options were exhausted. After watching primetime this is the way it appears. It cant be compared to Abbylara, but who knows maybe new facts will emerge

by number 6 - legalise freedom campaign Tue Oct 10, 2006 21:31

(Response to hidden comment removed)

Patty , there is no hatred for an Gardai. People are really pissed off with the carry on of a numbers of the Force , quite a few really.
People are under no illusiion that the Country would be a 'free for all 'if we had no Gardai. That is common sense. But lets not deny the established facts over the Years involving Garda corruption all Over the Country....,
AND , IF THE ERU AND OTHERS WERE PROPERLY TRAINED , THERE WOULD BE NO FATALITIES.
Kathy O'Toole does not help the situation by advocating an armed Garda Force. In fact ,she is planted to stir it up.

A problem , reaction , solution senario. It never fails to enforce a Totalitarian community under the guise of a 'safer' community enslaved with Cameras , security checks , ALL Phones are listened to , restricted movements , satillite monetaring and remote technology (smart) , Transponders in ALL Cars beyond 1986 , hence 'scrappage' scheme , and any other BIG BROTHER mechanisim you may think of that has dragged this Country into a Prison as America is today.

by barney rubble Tue Oct 10, 2006 21:19

for number 6, do u really stand over these comments???

Why did the Gardai / eru in Gort aim and use high velocity live rounds at the upper Torso / Heart of a Man armed with a Shotgun that has an effective range of maybe a number of yards?

i would love to know what tyre of shotgun this was to have an effective range of a few yards? would you be willing to stand in front of it to test out your theory?

I personally could hit a 4" Target at 200 yards and I would not be considered a marksman.

i would love to know what weapon you were using, a cannon, a rocket laucher maybe a surface to air missle. you want us to believe seriously that you could hit a four inch target from longer than the length of a gaa pitch.

your statements say a lot about you, stop watching mel gibson in lethal weapon or can you shoot faces on the target as well

by Kevin T. Walsh - Social Justice and Ethics Tue Oct 10, 2006 17:47

After reading your article Paul re. the shooting last night of the Irish citizen in Gort, you mentioned Abbeylara and rightly so.

The Gardai have learnt nothing but you have to realise Paul - the Garda i.q. is not very high. Sadly their ego of murder is higher.

Ironically, today is World Mental Health Day,.

The problem with the shooting last night is that the Gardai are stuck with 1 hour of denial. At 8.30 p.m. 1 report came out - Gardai in talks with man in the house. Then at 9.00 p.m. Garda statatement was 'Man brought down by trained Gardai' but as always at 9.30 p.m., the truth always emerges. This man was shot by a live round of ammunition. Why?

Today's papers will tell you of the two Gardai thugs who were drunk at the US Embassy. Armed with a Smith and Weston each drunk, disorderly and in full view of Embassy staff and cameras - Who is responspible for giving these common thugs guns?

The Police Department in Boston held a party when Ms. O'Toole left - now how can she re-organise a Garda force that is out of control in Ireland and with core lack oif discipline. Where are our top medical people to act as mediators in scenes such as this. When you give a culchie from Belmullet a gun, it is the same as giving Bin Laden a nuclear war-head, there is no logic to it.

Tonight I feel sorry for this man's partner and two children. When does McDowell stop the Heavy Gang within the ERU and when does common sense again prevail? When do we learn from past experiences?

I had a nightmare last night that my elderly mother in Connemara, aged 86, was shot 4 times by the ERU for refusing to pay her dog licence.

Is this what we are coming to in Ireland - a Police State!

Limerick are shouting for extra resources on the verge of a gangland feud in Moyross yet McDowell can send 200 Gardai to protect Shell at the Corrib. It beggars belief.

Circumstances as in this case have always happened and common sense prevailed. The Dispensary Doctor, Teacher, Garda, and yes the Parish Priest would convene and try and best assist the person. (I read that in the US, people with mental health problems are most likely to be shot!!!! We must think seriously and in line with Mr. Justice Barr's report on the John Carthy incident.

Kevin T. Walsh
Quotation
Templemore is based on training to produce professionals yet they turn out arrogance, foul mouthed, dodgy individuals in uniform. Why?

To see the change in others, first see the change in oneself - Gandhi

by remrgrt - none Tue Oct 10, 2006 17:45

The Gardai were perfectly right to take the shot. Unfortunately the man shot is seriously injured but it is more importent that innocent members of the public or the Gardai weren't injured or killed. I such a tense and difficult situation split second decisions have to be made. The Gardai tried to incapacitate him with non lethal weapons and it failed. They then shot him once on the shoulder which was a very measured and restrained response by all accounts considering he was firing a loaded weapon. They had no but to act to ensure public safety. It's all to criticise the Gardai due to recent scandels but in this case I commened their response and the outcome which resulted which could have been much worse.

by pseud Tue Oct 10, 2006 17:06

He came out firing and they used bean bag shot before firing with a gun what more can you ask for? How can you write such a bold headline with the little detail that has come out of this event.

by patty Tue Oct 10, 2006 15:42

I'm sick of hearing shite talk abount everything the Gardai do! We are very lucky to have such a police force in Ireland.

Yes, there have been problems with 3 or 4 issues and serious issues at that but the only thing the gardai did wrong in Abbeylara was as the FBI rerport said that John Mc Carthy should have been shot immediatly on discharging of hiss fire arm.

This incident in Gort was dealt with extermely well by the professional Gardai at the scene that put their life on the line every day so as we can live our lives.

Cant believe so many people waste so much time hating people that are heros to me and the mass of this country!!

Well done, An Garda Siochana, we, the real public are pround of you today and every day!

by Idiot swatter Tue Oct 10, 2006 14:26

You can get it in the Government Publications office just off Dawson Street Dublin for about five euro.
Im pretty sure it is on the internet last time I looked.

by number 6 - legalise freedom campaign Tue Oct 10, 2006 13:57

Katheleen O'Toole was postitioned to bring the Garda Force into step with SOP's and other new world order tactics and phrases.

Why was the F.B.I. brought in to cover up in Abbylara?

Why did the Council in Abbylara facilitate this cover-up by digging up the Road surface to rid the evidence of live rounds?

Why did they demolish the Carthy House?

Why did the Gardai / eru in Gort aim and use high velocity live rounds at the upper Torso / Heart of a Man armed with a Shotgun that has an effective range of maybe a number of yards?

I am very familiar with Firearms and am aware of the effects of same.
You do not walk after being hit in the leg with a live round, it's not like in the Films.

Why did these 'highly trained' Cops not aim for his leg if it was a dangerous situation?

I personally could hit a 4" Target at 200yards and I would not be considered a marksman.

These episodes are designed to numb People to what is coming down the track in relation Public order issues.

Our Guardians of the Peace have taken on a new role for their Masters.

Michael Staines first Garda Commissioner, ' An Garda Siochana shall not succeed by force of arms or numbers , but on their moral Authority as servants to the People' 1922. This Plaque hangs beside the Carraige Office in Dublin Castle.

by Sanity Monitor Tue Oct 10, 2006 12:46

Balbrigganer, as far as I understand it, it's a mixed bag. There are some countries, the majority, who carry out internal police investigations into shootings with varying degrees of transparency, and some, a minority, who carry out independent investigations. I personally believe the latter to be more progressive in keeping the Gardaí accountable.

I also believe that public trust in the Gardaí is so low that frankly the notion of them investigating themselves is ludicrous. This struck me when I was home down the country a couple of weeks ago for a family gathering where voting Labour is considered a bit off the wall radical, where the topic of the Gardaí came up and the unanimous opinion was one that would not be out of place in an Anarchist squat.

by Balbrigganers - none Tue Oct 10, 2006 12:16

Just a quick question, I understand its SOP to investigate shootings like this, but do you know if other police forces around the world have independent investigations everytime a situation like this occurs?

by Sanity Monitor Tue Oct 10, 2006 12:01

Firstly, unless some of you were present at the site, none of you know what happened. The Garda position, which is currently as I understand it on its third version and counting may turn out to be the correct one. If it is, a man who had fired on Garda vehicles and personnel emerged, firing at Gardaí, who responded with less lethal weapons, which failed to stop the man, at which point they responded with live rounds and disabled the man. If this is what happened, the Gardaí deserve to be commended for, and I would be as shocked as anyone else, acting appropriately with firearms.

Of course, the Gardaí, whose story has changed since this began, could be lieing. On their track record, it is actually more likely that they are lieing than not. But unless and until proof of their lieing comes to hand, we cannot rely on vague statements that the cops have done it again.

What is needed is an independent non-Garda inquiry into what happened. Until we get that, and we are unlikely to get it ever, then the Garda position must be treated with the dubiousness it deserves based on their track record. The cops may very well have done the right thing. In this crazy world, even that is possible. But they have no credibility to expect us to accept their position and the notion of coips investigating cops means that any such inquiry is, by its very nature, inadequate.

by Rob Zombie Tue Oct 10, 2006 11:17

The seige ended when the guy emerged from the house blasting at the gardai with two shotguns.
The garda responded first with non-lethal bean bag rounds which unfortunately didn't work.
The man was determined to escape the police cordon and run amok.
The sniper who fired the rifle shot hit the man in the shoulder in order to disable him.
The gardai saved lives and indeed saved the gunman's own life.

The Abbeylara report recommended that gardai use non lethal rounds to disable armed men in just the circumstances that occured in Gort.
They did just that.

But the Abbeylara report was quite clear.

There was no realistic alternative to shooting John Carthy dead once he emerged from the house armed with the shotgun after a seige during which he threatened and fired at gardai.

Obviously you don't care. You just want to pontificate about human rights abuses, police brutality etc. etc.

If the man in Gort had shot Gardai dead or shot members of the public dead you would be making and song and dance about gardai incompetence.

Your a joke.

by Balbrigganers - none Tue Oct 10, 2006 11:16

Firstly im sorry it ended this way, he was obviously disturbed.

However there are a number of points not mentioned in your article, you may not have all the facts, indeed my source may be incorrect, I got some of these from a media member who was on the scene.

The man shot at garda vehicles ealier before the siege began and had been firing wildly for a couple of hours before that.

He had 2 guns, one of which he handed over in the negotiations.

This is the third incident in 2 weeks in which gardai have been fired upon, 1 garda is still in hospital.

He handed over one weapon but kept the other

Gardai tried to get him to come peacefully

Media at the scene have confirmed that the bean bags did not disable him and he was firing in the direction of the gardai and in their opinion gardai acted with proportionate force given the circumstance.

FACT: ERU (Emergency response unit) are trained to kill, they are a last resort, they are trained to take aimed headshots unlike armed training for standard gardai who fire at centre of mass (body shots).

I know some people have an inherent hatred for all things gardai or have no understanding of why a police force must act with overpowering and unequal force in a situation like this, but i would invite them to consider the fact that with 50 gardai there including ERU and most of them probably armed and given that this guy fired a number of shots in direction gardai as he exited the building, the man was hit first with bean bag rounds (non lethal) and finally "brought down" with a single live round.

In my opinion, this was operation was an overall success for the Gardai.

One of two things happened, either ERU member took an aimed shot with intention to disable (one shot fired, not a hail of bullets) or a detective discharged one round, either way its self defence as he was firing at them.