Tony Golden, the garda murdered on Sunday night, was a “brother, husband, father, son and hero”.
An emotional tribute to Garda Golden by Patrick, his heartbroken brother, moved mourners to tears yesterday as the Co Louth village of Blackrock came to a standstill for his funeral mass.
More than 300 relatives, friends and colleagues, led by Michael D Higgins and Enda Kenny packed into St Oliver Plunkett Church to pay respect to a man described repeatedly as “a gentle giant”.
Outside in the church grounds and in the centre of the seaside village, thousands of locals, matched by an equal number of gardai also listened to the ceremony as it was relayed through loudspeakers and on video screens.
The 36 year-old father-of-three was shot in Omeath, Co Louth, on Sunday by Adrian Crevan Mackin, 24, after he had accompanied Siobhan Phillips, a young woman at risk of domestic violence, to her home to collect her belongings.
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Mr Crevin, Ms Phillips’ estranged partner, father of her two children and a suspected dissident republican, also shot her with an illegally held pistol before killing himself with the same weapon.
Welcoming the congregation, Father Padraig Keenan, the local parish priest and chief celebrant, recalled the tragic events of the weekend and said the silence of the waters in Dundalk Bay reflected the silence and sadness which had unfolded for everyone after Garda Golden’s death on Sunday night.
A GAA jersey from his home club Ballina Stephenites, a family photograph and a few snacks in recognition of his “time out” space were among the symbols of Garda Golden’s life that were brought to the altar at the start of the Mass.
In his homily Father Keenan recalled the “cold-blooded murder” of Garda Golden in the line of duty – the 88th member of the force to die “protecting our country, our society and community”.
“It is 88 members too many,” he added.
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He spoke of the immense pride felt by Garda Golden’s family and colleagues in him and his selfless nature. “He had a charisma that was calm, gentle and polite,” the congregation was told.
Father Keenan reassured the garda’s family they would have memories of him that would be treasured and cherished forever.
Prayers were also said for Ms Phillips who remains in a critical condition in Beaumont hospital.
In a post-communion reflection, Patrick Golden said that the words which immediately came to mind when he thought of his brother were “hero, gentle giant, family man – caring, rock and idol”.
The church fell silent as he recalled how his older brother had created a sense of security and protection in their childhood home in Mayo and more recently for his own family in Blackrock, as well as his brother’s bravery, which cost him his life last Sunday.
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Nóirín O’Sullivan, the garda commissioner, also addressed the congregation to express the support and dedication of “every one of us who wear the blue uniform” to keep their fallen colleague’s memory alive.
The chief mourners were Garda Golden’s widow, Nicola and their three young children, Lucy, Alex and Andrew; his parents, David and Breege and siblings, David, Kenneth, Patrick, Seán and Mary.
Others attending the service included Joan Burton, Frances Fitzgerald, the justice minister as well as other members of the cabinet including Heather Humphreys and Brendan Howlin.
To the sounds of Bruce Springsteen’s You’re Missing, Garda Golden’s coffin, draped in a tricolour and bearing his cap and gloves, was carried out of the church first by relatives and then his garda colleagues.
A funeral cortege led by the garda band then proceeded along a coastal route lined by thousands of gardai from around the country, before a private burial ceremony at St Paul’s cemetery in nearby Heynestown.