‘To Adrian’s killers... we are coming for you’
GARDA Commissioner Martin Callinan yesterday warned those involved in the murder of Detective Adrian Donohoe: ‘Keep looking over your shoulder.’
The garda chief said the force knew who the suspects were and urged members of the killers’ gang withholding information to come forward ‘before we come knocking on your door’.
Commissioner Callinan, speaking yesterday on the eve of today’s first anniversary of the murder of Garda Donohoe, said: ‘Obviously there were people involved in preparation, in terms of the actual perpetration of the crime itself.
‘Anyone who has information in that regard now is the time to come forward and help us before we come knocking on your door.
‘I say to the people involved in this particular crime, keep looking over your shoulder.’
Commissioner Callinan also appealed to the people shielding the killers of Detective Donohoe, who was shot at Lordship Credit Union, in Bellurgan, Dundalk Co. Louth, to contact gardaí.
He said: ‘There are people north and south of the border who are aware of the perpetrators of this crime. People are shielding the murderer and it is at this point appropriate that I appeal to those people to come forward. These are ordinary, everyday people who know what these people did on the night, before and after, and these are the people I say are shielding murderers.
‘These are the people I am making a heartfelt plea to come forward and help us so we can progress the investigation even faster.
‘It is always a possibility that people are too afraid to come forward but I am clearly saying today, come forward and help us and we will make sure no harm comes to you.’
Detective Garda Donohoe was gunned down by a gang as he provided an escort for credit union staff that were carrying cash for lodgement on January 25, 2013.
Several of the five alleged suspects involved in the murder of Detective Garda Donohoe fled the country following the shooting of the 42-year- old a year ago today and Commissioner Callinan confirmed yesterday they were following lines of enquiry in several countries.
Speaking yesterday at Dundalk garda station, where Detective Garda Donohoe worked, Mr Callinan said: ‘We are working very closely with our colleagues in the PSNI, the US, where we have carried out enquiries, in Europol and Interpol and in the Netherlands.’
Commissioner Callinan appealed to anyone with information about a child’s car seat, taken from the car used by the gang to escape the scene, or a hammer found at the murder scene, to contact gardaí.
He said: ‘We are still asking people to deal with a child seat that has been circulated and a specialised hammer that panel beaters use.
‘These are important items to us in the overall context of the investigation.
‘It is important that every single piece of intelligence and evidence that will eventually lead us to the successful prosecution of these people.’
He said the gardaí believed they knew who Detective Garda Donohoe’s murderers are and was confident that justice would be done. He said: ‘ We are happy with the progress we have made so far, but we still have work to do.
‘It doesn’t matter if it is next week or next year we will continue to work as hard as we possible can until we bring the perpetrators of this crime to justice.’
Commissioner Callinan also remembered Detective Garda Donohoe’s wife Caroline and children Niall and Amy as they marked the anniversary of his ‘senseless, cold-blooded murder’.
He said: ‘It is Caroline and the two children who are uppermost in my mind at this time, as we remember a man who involved himself wholly in his family, his community, and in his job, and who ultimately gave his life in the service of them.’