Picture Credit Brian Gavin Press 22
TWO brothers have been charged with attempted second degree murder and the armed robbery of a Limerick-based Garda who was attacked while on holiday in New Orleans.
Brian Hanrahan (30) was shot in the chest and leg while visiting New Orleans with his father, Brian snr in January of last year.
The Newcastle West stationed Garda was found by police in the early hours of January 27, 2015 lying injured in the driveway of a house.
Melvin P Galle jnr (40) and his brother Keith M Galle (33) were both charged with attempted second-degree murder and armed robbery. Both men are in custody and will face separate trials – one week apart next June.
Gda Hanrahan, a married father-of-one, required life-saving surgery in the US to remove a bullet from his body after the shooting.
At the time of the incident, Gda Hanrahan met one of the suspects who brought him to an area where they told him that he could get a drink.
Gda Hanrahan told US police that he withdrew $200 (€175) from an ATM and when they reached a block two miles north of the French Quarter, a second man approached and asked him for cash.
When he refused, the man shot him, took his money and fled.
The Galle brothers were subsequently arrested after “solid police work coupled with co-operation from the community”. A $2,500 reward for information had also been offered.
Gda Hanrahan returned home a number of weeks later having thanked everyone involved in his medical care and with apprehending the two suspects.
Since his return to Ireland, the New Orleans Police Department and An Garda Siochana have raised thousands of euro to help the father of one meet the cost of his travel, accommodation and medical bills, which are estimated at close to $1million (€880,000).
