Garda Adrian Donohue

There has been widespread public revulsion at the killing of Detective Garda Adrian Donohue in County Louth. His state funeral is taking place in Dundalk. His remains were removed from his home at 11.30am to St Joseph’s Redemptorist Church in  Dundalk arriving at 1.00pm. The main celebrant will be Fr Michael Cusack, who was with Caroline Donohue and her family until late last night, preparing for the funeral. Following requiem Mass, the cortege will proceed to Lordship Cemetery for burial. It was at Lordship credit union that Garda Donohue was shot dead during a raid by an armed gang on Friday night.

The Irish League of Credit Unions has offered a reward of €50,000 for any information leading to arrests and prosecutions in the case. In the Dáil, the Taoiseach led tributes to the 41 year-old detective, a married man with two young children. The Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams said Garda Donohoe had died in the defence of other citizens. He said the death provoked memories of the killing of Jerry McCabe by the IRA in June 1996. He went on to apologise to Mrs McCabe, the McCabe family and to Garda Ben O’Sullivan, who survived the shooting. The Louth TD also apologised to other members of what he called “state forces” who were killed by republicans in the course of the Northern Ireland conflict.

Books of condolences have been opened at many centres including Dundalk Garda station where Garda Donohue was based and the Mansion House in Dublin. The tricolour has been flown at half mast at Garda stations since the shooting. But it will only be lowered today on government buildings and at Aras an Uachtaraín. On Saturday, passing by the Aras, I was surprised the flag had not been lowered as a mark of respect and again when I was there yesterday it flew at its normal position. I was informed that the Department of the Taoiseach decides the protocol. Yet when Garda McCabe was shot dead, the tricolour (or so we are told) did fly at half mast soon after the killing. Today the nation is in mourning for a dedicated servant of the people. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

Memorial at Garda HQ Phoenix Park