GSOC seek files on garda killer

GARDA OMBUDSMAN APPLIES FOR CREVAN MACKIN FILES

THE Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) has applied for access to documents relating to Adrian Crevan Mackin, the man who shot and killed Garda Tony Golden in Omeath three years ago.

The application was made at the Circuit Court sitting in Dundalk last week, by a barrister representing GSOC.

Judge Martina Baxter heard that the garda watchdog were making the application in relation to a ‘now deceased’ client of solicitor, under the Garda Siochana Act.

The Argus understands this is Crevan Mackin, who turned the gun on himself after seriously wounding his former partner Siobhan Philips and killing Garda Golden in the shooting.

Garda Golden had accompanied Ms. Philips to collect her belongings from the house she previously shared with Crevan Makcin.

The court heard there was an element of legal privilege to be considered as part of the application.

Solicitor Paul Tiernan was also represented at the Circuit Court.

An adjournment was sought to allow sufficient time for a response to the application.

A number of individuals were listed as ‘defendants’ in the application, including Sean Philips, father of Siobhan, and her step mother Norma Philips, along with Crevan Mackin’s mother Veronica and sister Sinead.

Judge Baxter said she would grant an adjournment of four weeks, but set a date of November 20th for a full hearing of the matter.

Sean and Norma Philips, have repeatedly called for a public inquiry into Crevan Mackin’’s interactions with gardai prior to the shooting at Mullach Alainn on October 11th.

The Philips family were also critical of the way in which gardaí handled prior complaints of domestic violence against Crevan Mackin.T

Two internal garda reviews were carried out, which found that two domestic violence incidents involving Siobhan were not properly logged on the Pulse system by gardaí.

However, the review found that even if accurate reports had been created on the incidents, it was unlikely it would have changed the circumstances whereby Gda Golden was shot dead by Ms Phillips’ partner, Adrian Crevan Mackin.

The review also found that Gda Golden was ‘an exemplary member” of the Garda’ and that ‘ his actions were beyond reproach.’

The Garda Ombudsman committed to separately investigating the matter after setting up a public interest inquiry in April 2017.