Thousands of mourners were on hand at St. Joseph’s Redemptorist Church in Dundalk, Co Louth to pay their respects to 41-year-old detective garda Adrian Donohoe who was shot while on duty last week.
Donohoe is the first garda member to be killed while on duty since 1996. He was shot on January 25th during a robbery at Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan. Donohoe’s colleague, Det Garda Joe Ryan, was held at gunpoint during the incident that saw burglars make off with €4,000.
Reports indicate that the burglars knew that the Credit Union would be escorted by gardai at the time of their break-in. Donohoe was reportedly filling in for another colleague that night.
Family, friends, gardai and politicians all came out for the state funeral held on Wednesday for Donohoe in Dundalk.
It is estimated that around 2,500 uniformed gardaí, and up to 1,000 plain-clothes officers, attended the mass. Donohoe’s colleague Det Garda Joe Ryan was among the pallbearers of the tri-color draped coffin.
Read more Irish crime news here
An Taoiseach Enda Kenny, President Michael D Higgins, and Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan were all present for the funeral processions. Northern Ireland’s Secretary Theresa Villiers, Sinn Fein’s Gerry Adams, Justice Minister David Ford, Chief Constable Matt Baggott were also in attendance.
Donohoe’s brothers Colm and Alan expressed their gratitude for the community’s “comforting and humbling” support as they cope with the “senseless and tragic loss” of Adrian.
While Adrian’s brothers said their entire family is “devastated,” they thanked Adrian’s widow Caroline Donohoe for making Adrian “the happiest and proudest husband and dad.”
Commissioner Martin Callinan thanked citizens who lined up at their local police stations to sign Books of Condolences. He added that the police force’s resolve to bring the criminals to justice was “strengthened.”
“No words can adequately express the great sense of loss and revulsion of the Donohoe family,” said Callinan, “the family of the Garda Síochána and the wider public in learning of the cold-blooded murder last Friday night.”
Read more: Partner of murdered Irish policeman was threatened as he ran to help dying cop
The Irish League of Credit Unions has offered a reward of €50,000 for information which might lead to arrests or prosecutions. Irish detectives are examining CCTV footage taken from local businesses and the credit union.
Gardai believe that the robbery and death of Garda Donohoe is in connection with a burnt-out car discovered on Sunday which was stolen a few days prior to the murder. The PSNI are currently conducting a forensic investigation on the car.
BBC News reports that, “While Irish police have not ruled anything out at this stage, they suspect that a cross-border gang was involved in the robbery and murder, and that gang operates in the north Louth-south Armagh area.”
On Tuesday, Taoiseach Enda Kenny said to the Dail that “Let me assure everyone here, everyone in his family and in the country that we will do everything possible to bring those who murdered Det Garda Donohoe to justice.”
"We cannot rest until we have done so."
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.seamus60 | Feb 15, 2013, 12:02 PM EST
Whats wrong Tint, throwing in the towel so soon ?
IrelandNorth | Feb 03, 2013, 06:05 AM EST
Lives will continue to be lost while people insist on living a lie. And no amount of counter revolutionary revisionism will cure that malaise. Conspicuously wooden self-righteous indigination by politicos butters no parsnips. And no amount of tawdry boltholing will set[h] the people free. This was criminal NOT political, an inconvenient truth to those who can't see the wood for the trees.
IrelandNorth | Feb 03, 2013, 06:04 AM EST
Lives will continue to be lost while people insist on living a lie. And no amount of counter revolutionary revisionism will cure that malaise. Conspicuously wooden self-righteous indigination by politicos butters no parsnips. And no amount of tawdry boltholing will set[h] the people free. This was criminal NOT political, an inconvenient truth to those who can't see the wood for the trees.
Portia_O'Neill | Feb 02, 2013, 09:17 PM EST
All the gardai in Ireland are related to each other. They're known as the clan O'Garda.
seamus60 | Feb 02, 2013, 05:37 AM EST
Dan. Of course. Why wouldn`t I ?
DanOLoingsigh | Feb 01, 2013, 05:57 PM EST
Seamus60 – Do you support people giving information on the gang who killed Garda Donohoe?
Babsy1989 | Feb 01, 2013, 12:19 PM EST
Such terrible journalism seriously do you ever fact check?? Detective Garda Donghoe was not the 1st Garda to die on duty since 1996 he is the 4 th Garda to die since 1996 Andrew ‘Andy’ Callanan: Sergeant Callanan was on duty at Tallaght Station in the early hours of July 21, 1999 when a man poured petrol over himself while standing in the entrance hall. Callanan tried to intervene and the man poured petrol over him before igniting it. Callanan sustained fatal injuries. Michael Padden and Tony Tighe: Gardaí Padden and Tighe were on duty in Donnybrook when they were alerted to a robbery in Dalkey. They stationed their patrol car at a junction on the Stillorgan dual carriageway intending to intercept the getaway car, and hoping to stop other drivers from driving into its path. The getaway car struck their patrol car and caused fatal injuries to both. FACT you guys seriously need to fact check! rest in peace Garda donoghe images of your funeral procession will be forever itched in my mind. Your funeral showed you were greatly loved and admired by your family and colleges rest easy sir!
seamus60 | Feb 01, 2013, 08:55 AM EST
thetint. She only confirmed some of the detail in her interview after scrupulous journalists couldn`t hold their water. What she did disclose was already out there and no one including Adams could have been tried, never mind convicted on her word alone. Unlike Adams and Mc Guinness who have openly called on Irish people to pass information to the brits that will result in imprisonment or even death to Republicans at the hands of their new found allies. Who`s the Touts ? Please reply as its a subject not lacking in material people may not be aware of.
thetint | Feb 01, 2013, 06:32 AM EST
seamus60. Why would he go to the funeral of an informer? That’s what she had become in her latter days.
seamus60 | Feb 01, 2013, 02:53 AM EST
Pilib04. Don`t dispair, gerry would stand over you first percentage if he thought for one moment people would believe it.
aloistmartin | Jan 31, 2013, 08:58 PM EST
Those, who will mourn for a Professional Bouncer; But will not kneel to the Self-Flagellation of Devout Catholism
pilib04 | Jan 31, 2013, 06:21 PM EST
Obviously my post should have read 21.7%... and I have no idea why my post came out twice.
pilib04 | Jan 31, 2013, 06:21 PM EST
Obviously my post should have read 21.7%...
pilib04 | Jan 31, 2013, 06:20 PM EST
Auderybolton, your comments about Gerry Adams,TD and President of Sinn Fein, are despicable. Adams is quite the opposite, LOVED, by his constituents in Louth/West Meath. You apparently have no idea what you are speaking of! Adams topped the Louth poll with 15,072 or 217% of the First preference vote.
pilib04 | Jan 31, 2013, 06:20 PM EST
Auderybolton, your comments about Gerry Adams,TD and President of Sinn Fein, are despicable. Adams is quite the opposite, LOVED, by his constituents in Louth/West Meath. You apparently have no idea what you are speaking of! Adams topped the Louth poll with 15,072 or 217% of the First preference vote.
warrenpoint00 | Jan 31, 2013, 05:04 PM EST
Auderybolton, I certainly condemn all acts of thuggery and violence against those officers of the law that are sworn to keep the our Irish citizens safe.You on the other hand seem to entwine the cause of this young policeman,s death with Irish republican,s and Mr Adams.I can,t understand why.While I acknowledge the service of this young Garda and your own service to our country I must remind you that many Irish republicans gave their lives in the line of service to our country as well.Bobby Sands a young Irish republican solider was one of those I mention, his funeral attracted over 100 thousand people and many business,s all over Ireland closed their shops in respect for him. I guess what I am saying to you audreybolton , as a young Irish soldier, and also to your fellow servicemen that I would sincerely hope you would be able to command the same respect afforded to Oglach Bobby Sands,by the people of Ireland.RIP Garda Donohoue
seamus60 | Jan 31, 2013, 02:32 PM EST
Thetint. With respect Adams was not prepared to take the risk of what people might do at a funeral, other wise he would have attended Dolours`s.
seamus60 | Jan 31, 2013, 02:27 PM EST
My apoligies for misspelling Dolours.
seamus60 | Jan 31, 2013, 02:23 PM EST
Audrey. I have already requested officer Donohoe rest in peace as with the prison officer killed recently in the North. Had I known the family I would have gone as far as a mass card. I don`t so I didn`t. Have I in any way sullied officer Donohoes name or character ? yet you feel at ease implying delours was unable to live with her past. Had officer Donahoe been force fed for as long as Delours I would no doubt have more to say on the man. He didn`t so I havent. Would you like me to pull stuff out of the sky just for the sake of making you feel better. I won`t apoligise because I don`t do false window dressing
thetint | Jan 31, 2013, 01:51 PM EST
I doubt very much you were there. Who expresses disgust towards an individual at a funeral? Only a very socially awkward and bigoted type of person. And this of course is the constituency where Adams topped the poll in the election.
thetint | Jan 31, 2013, 01:49 PM EST
I doubt very much you were there. Who expresses disgust towards an individual at a funeral? Only a very socially awkward and bigoted type of person. And this of course is the constituency where Adams topped the poll in the election.
audreybolton | Jan 31, 2013, 01:27 PM EST
I would like to extend my condolences to the family of Garda Donohoe on the death of a real life brave Irish Patriot who tried to protect us from the evil people in our society. As an Irish soldier with many years service both at home and abroad, I am well aware of the dangers of the job. I note people like Seamus60, Seanomelb and other republican fans have nothing to say on this murder but a lot to say on Dolours Price who in the end could not live with what she had done. I would like to hear from them why they have no sympathy for the protectors of democratic freedom and their families. The murder of a Garda/Prison Officer/Soldiers is as capital offence under Irish State Law and carries a prison sentance of 40 years with no remission. When they are caught (and they will be) the consequences will be severe. Many Irish people don't think Gerry Adams is sorry about either deaths as well as Garda Gerry McCabe's murder in 1996 and it was just a political move. I was at the funeral in Dundalk and the people of that town showed their respect for Garda Donohue and their disgust at Adams appearance. His mistreatment of Anne McCabe and her family down the years showed that only too well his contmpt for the feelings. He's a frightened man.!