Fr Christy McElwee says scene at Omeath shooting was “horrific”
A priest from Co Derry gave the Last Rites to a Garda officer gunned down in the line of duty at the weekend.
Fr Christy McElwee, who is originally from Magherafelt has spoken of what he described as the “horrific” scene inside the house in Omeath, Co Louth.
Garda Tony Golden was on duty in the local Garda station when Siobhan Phillips came in to make a complaint of domestic against her ex-partner Crevan Mackin, who also went by the name of Adrian Mackin.
Garda Golden later accompanied her to her home where she was retrieving some of her personal items.
Unknown to them, psychopath Mackin was lurking in the property with a semi-automatic firearm.
First, he shot Ms Phillips, the mother of his two children, and then turned the gun on Garda Golden, hitting him a number of times, fatally.
The cocaine-snorting Mackin, who has a long history of violence, including being convicted as a teenage of attempted murder.
Ms Phillips, a hairdresser, is in a critical condition in hospital.
Fr Christy McElwee, who is now based in Omeath, said he was shocked by what he saw on Sunday evening when he got the call just after 6 pm to go to the house.
Murdered Garda officer Tony Golden killed in the line of duty
“The scene that I saw was very horrific. You would need to be a strong person not to be taken back by it or shocked by it.
“Our thoughts and prayers are very much with the Garda that lost his life.
“We’re thinking of him and praying for his family at this time.”
A book of condolence has been opened in Omeath Garda station for the public and colleagues to express their remorse for the married 36-year-old Guard.
His killer, Crevan Mackin, is currently on bail after being charged in January this year with membership of the dissident IRA group.
But he was refused permission onto the dissident republican wings in Portlaoise Prison as he was a “lone wolf”.
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