Partner of murdered Irish policeman was threatened as he ran to help dying cop

Detective Joe Ryan was warned he'd be shot

‘We have no indication which direction it went, north or south, and do not have registration details.

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He added: ‘Dr Khalid Jabber attended the scene and later last night the remains of Detective Donohoe were removed to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda where a full post mortem was carried out today.’

Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan said: ‘I want to assure the family that we will be doing everything in our power to bring the perpetrators of this terrible murder to justice.

‘It is a very, very sad day for An Garda Siochána and for Ireland. We were deeply shocked and saddened by the murder of our colleague while he was carrying out his duty.

‘I just want to say at this time is that my thoughts, and the thoughts of everyone in An Garda Siochána and I am sure the wider community are with the Donohoe family and their immediate and extended families, particularly with Caroline and their two young children.

‘I was in contact last night with the family through my colleagues. Obviously, there is great upset and sensitivity involved so we have to allow them some time.

‘I have received overwhelming support from the Government, from my minister, from the President and many, many more political and community leaders and we deeply appreciate that.

‘This is a cry for help for An Garda Siochána,’ he said.

‘There are people out there who are aware of who these people are and I appeal to those people to come forward and help us. Society needs to make some choices here. We do need the public’s help and this is an opportunity for them to come forward.

‘Up to four people involved in the actual raid and how many were involved beyond that will remain to be seen.

‘We will put all our energy into finding out who precisely was behind this robbery.

‘It is too early to speculate if there is a subversive element in relation to this or if they are criminals, ordinary criminals.’

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It has been 17 years since a policeman was shot dead in Ireland. In 1996, Jerry McCabe was shot in the head as he escorted an An Post van in Adare, Co. Limerick.

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Nster.com