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A detective investigating the murder of a serving garda in Co Louth approached Gerry Adams after a Sinn F\u00e9in member, who was a key witness in the case, would not make a statement before speaking to the party, it has emerged.<\/p>\nA detective investigating the murder of a serving garda in Co Louth approached Gerry Adams after a Sinn F\u00e9in member, who was a key witness in the case, would not make a statement before speaking to the party, it has emerged.<\/p>\n
Sinn F\u00e9in TD Darren O\u2019Rourke said he understood Mr Adams spoke to the party member after Detective Inspector Pat Marry went to the former leader for help.<\/p>\n
Mr O\u2019Rourke denied there was a culture of fear in the party, adding that he understood members do not need to consult senior members before giving information to garda\u00ed or the PSNI.<\/p>\n
The Irish Times reported on Tuesday that the unnamed Sinn F\u00e9in member gave a statement detailing how he heard Aaron Brady confess to the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe during the robbery of Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan on January 25th 2013.<\/p>\n
Mr Marry told the newspaper he had to go to a Sinn F\u00e9in TD for help before the witness was told by the party that there were no issues in him providing information about the killing.<\/p>\n
Brady, a 29-year-old from Co Armagh, was convicted of capital murder at Dublin\u2019s Central Criminal Court last week.<\/p>\n
Mr O\u2019Rourke said: \u201cI don\u2019t know that person, and again I don\u2019t know the decision-making process in terms of their own thinking and why they felt they needed to do that.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe party has been very clear that in so many cases and so many incidents, that people should come and make statements and bring information they have to the guards and PSNI.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn fairness I don\u2019t think the party presumed they needed to, you don\u2019t need to come to Sinn F\u00e9in first before you do that, it\u2019s clearly not the case.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think in how that developed and played out it was clear that the party don\u2019t require that from people, and a very helpful and useful role was played by that person, which was the important point.\u201d<\/p>\n
Asked if the TD involved was Mr Adams, Mr O\u2019Rourke said: \u201cIt\u2019s my understanding that it was.\u201d<\/p>\n
He insisted there is no culture of fear in the party, adding: \u201cI can say that as somebody who has been a member of this party for over 20 years and come into it without a strong republican background. I have never experienced that and the leadership has always been encouraging in terms of our important role as citizens first.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know what the rationale was on behalf of that person, maybe it was them being over-cautious or second guessing themselves.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fine Gael TD Neale Richmond said the incident raises \u201cserious questions\u201d.<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cOnce again when it comes to Sinn F\u00e9in and the law of the land, we have seen a shadowy parallel system at work.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have seen it in respect of the murder of Paul Quinn, the horrific treatment of M\u00e1ir\u00eda Cahill, and at various repeated junctures.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe revelation that a key witness in the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe wouldn\u2019t speak with investigating garda\u00ed until they cleared it with party figures raises serious questions that the party must answer.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy does a Sinn F\u00e9in activist feel they need to speak with party officials before making a statement to the garda\u00ed? Do Sinn F\u00e9in believe their authority comes before that of the state? Will Sinn F\u00e9in encourage all who have information on the murder of Detective Garda Donohoe to present themselves to the garda\u00ed?\u201d<\/p>\n