Amnesty seeks independent investigation of garda shootings
Amnesty International is demanding an independent investigation into the killing of two post office raiders by Gardaí in Co Dublin yesterday morning.
Thirty-three-year Colm Griffin and 24-year-old Eric Hopkins, both from Dublin's north inner city, were shot dead by gardaí who were lying in wait for them when they tried to rob a post office in Lusk.
The gardaí have insisted they men were shot after repeated calls for them to put down their weapons, but one of the men was unarmed, raising questions about the need for the shooting.
Reports this morning said both men were shot in the upper body by one member of the Garda's armed Emergency Response Unit.
The Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and Justice Minister Michael McDowell both made statements yesterday supporting the gardaí involved.
The Force has launched an internal investigation into the incident, but Amnesty has insisted that an independent inquiry is needed to establish whether gardaí were warranted in opening fire.
