Includes an exclusive interview with John Carthy’s sister, Marie Carthy
On 20 April 2000 John Carthy emerged from his home in Abbeylara, County Longford after a twenty-five hour stand-off with the police during which he discharged thirty shots. He was carrying a loaded shotgun. Ignoring calls to stop, he proceeded towards the garda command post. Two shots rang out; then another two. John Carthy fell dead on the road, having been hit four times by members of an Garda Síochána.
The shooting provoked anger and raised awkward questions for the police force. Did John Carthy have to die? Was there no other way to resolve the incident?
'Carthy had discharged thirty shots during the standoff and had emerged carrying a loaded shotgun when he was shot. But major questions arose which all boiled down to one simple question: Did John Carthy - a mentally ill young man - have to die? Hennelly isolates the key findings of the Tribunal and uses the evidence of the family and friends of John Carthy to reconstruct the events of that terrible day.' - Irish Independent
'Gripping book . . . tells the sad story with compassion and consideration.' - Western People
Publication Details:
Binding: Paperback, 296 pages ISBN: 9781847170170 Format: 196mm x 130mm
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