THE Garda Representative Association has hit out at the decision to house notorious criminal Martin McDermott at Loughan House open prison.
The GRA, which represents about 12,000 rank and file garda members, said they were outraged that killer McDermott was moved to the “holiday camp.”
They said it was too soon after his conviction for killing a garda needed to be examined by the Government and Mr Shatter.
“We are asking the Minister to examine who made the decision to transfer this newly convicted prisoner to a low security prison – and how does this act as a deterrent to others?” said GRA president Damien McCarthy.
He said Gda McLoughlin and Gda Robbie McCallion, who died in the Donegal division when struck by a car in an unrelated and separate incident, had lost their lives to criminals who were trying to “flee the law” at the time of both fatal collisions.
Both had been working “on behalf of the people of Donegal” when killed. The GRA believed the penalty for killing a garda who was doing their duty must be higher than that handed down when a civilian pedestrian or motorist was killed.
“As gardaí, we demand legislation that protects us in the course of our duty. If that were to be the legacy of these two gardaí then it would be a fitting tribute to two exceptional and upstanding young men who made the ultimate sacrifice,” Mr McCarthy said.
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