Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)

I join with the Minister and House in expressing my sympathies to the family, colleagues and members of the Stepaside and Wicklow communities on the death of Garda Ciaran Jones. I endorse all that the Minister said.

That Garda Jones was off duty when he undertook to protect his neighbours is an indication of his bravery. Our thoughts are with his family, including his parents who are travelling back from abroad - one can only imagine what they are going through - his brother and sister who were with him at the time of the accident, his colleagues and all those who in the most extraordinary of conditions last night searched throughout the night for him.

It is at times like this that we are reminded of the bravery of our gardaí, on and off duty, in trying to save others in all circumstances. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

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