A DISSIDENT republican from Co Down who shot dead a garda in a murder-suicide was previously convicted of possessing sickening pornography involving animals.
Adrian Crevan Mackin was convicted of 23 charges of possessing "extreme pornography" including graphic photographs of a depraved nature.
He had been on bail awaiting trial for IRA membership when he gunned down Garda Tony Golden in Omeath, Co Louth, on the evening of October 11, before turning the gun on himself.
Garda Golden (36), a married father of three, was killed while escorting Mackin's partner Siobhan Phillips home to collect belongings after she made a domestic abuse complaint.
Ms Phillips, in her early 20s and said to be originally from Newry, was also shot several times at the house and last night remained critical in hospital.
The couple are understood to have been together for several years and had two children, both under the age of four.
Mackin (25) was convicted at Belfast Magistrates Court over the extreme pornography in December 2012 and was given a four-month sentence suspended for one year.
Mackin's address at the time was Craigaveen Close in Newry, although it is thought he may have also lived in Hilltown and Rostrevor over the years.
In January he was brought before the Special Criminal Court in Dublin charged with IRA membership following a joint Garda-PSNI operation targeting dissident republicans along the border.
He was charged with membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself as the IRA or Óglaigh na hÉireann.
Mackin described himself as a "proud Fenian" on social networking sites and is pictured smiling next to his BMW car on his Facebook page.
But dissident republican sources last night distanced themselves from the killer, claiming he was not a member of any paramilitary group.
Tributes to the murdered garda were led by Taoiseach Enda Kenny and President Michael D Higgins who described it as a "most serious and tragic incident".
A brother of Ms Phillips said his family were desperately praying for her recovery, adding that he felt heartbroken for the family of Garda Golden.
He told friends on Facebook: "Never in all my life thought anything like this would ever happen to my wee sis. Please god help her get through this. Keep fighting an stay strong Siobhan we all love you and are all praying for you."
