Gardaí and public praised over Longford murder verdict

The Garda chief who headed up a 40 strong team of officers involved in the successful prosecution of a drug dealer for the murder of a Polish father-of-two outside Longford Shopping Centre in 2016, has hailed the 'very professional' manner in which the case was handled.

Supt Jim Delaney was speaking in the wake of an eight day trial at Dublin's Central Criminal Court which saw 26-year-old Rihards Lavickis sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Akadiusz ‘Arik’ Czajkowski (31) on November 1, 2016.

“I would like to extend my deepest appreciation and acknowledgement to the members of Longford District for their commitment and the very professional way in which the investigation was handled under very high public scrutiny.

“Murder is the most serious offence on our Statute books and we, as an organisation, are acutely aware of the effect that such an incident occurring at the time if did in broad daylight can have.”

Supt Delaney was only in the post a matter of months when Longford and its surrounding environs was thrust onto the national stage.

Within a short space of time, however, an arrest was made, something the experienced garda boss said could not have happened without the support of the local community.

“Community and public safety is a priority for us as is community engagement.

This was obviously an engagement of different kind but it I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the assistance and cooperation we received from the community and especially to those people who gave evidence at both trials.”

Supt Delaney said such backing, allied to the inter agency support he and his team of officers received throughout went a long way towards bringing about the investgation's successful conclusion.

Setting those assertions aside, Supt Delaney was keen to stress the more sobering aspects to the case.

“We have to remember that there is a victim in all of this and a family has suffered as a result of the actions of one man.

“Although they are not resident in this country I would hope it will provide some level of assurance and closure.

“He is some mother’s son after all and there are people who are grieving his loss.”

Read more: Father-of-one sentenced to life in prison for murdering fellow Longford drug dealer