Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I join the Taoiseach, on my own behalf and that of the Labour Party, in expressing shock and disgust at the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe on Friday evening last. I express our sympathy to his wife, Caroline, their two children and all the Donohoe family. I also express our solidarity with and support for Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe's colleagues in An Garda Síochána.

An Garda Síochána provides a public service which forms a cornerstone of our democracy and which allows all of us, as citizens and residents of this country, the freedom to live our lives, conduct our business and raise our families in safety. In providing that service members of an Garda Síochána put their own safety on the line on each occasion on which they leave their families behind, answer a call for help or step up to perform their duty. As the callous murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe so starkly underlines, the members of An Garda Síochána are not just the guardians of our community, they are also the pillars of our community. An attack on a member of An Garda Síochána is an attack on all of us, as citizens, on our society and the community the force serves.

I pay tribute to Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, a man who lived by the ideals of public service and service to his community, a member of a force who, through his actions, exemplified the philosophy that An Garda Síochána will succeed, not by force of arms or numbers but on its moral authority as the servant of the people. In the course of providing that service it was not only Adrian Donohoe who made the ultimate sacrifice but also his wife, Caroline, their two children and all his family. They have our deepest sympathy. I express our solidarity with and support for Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe's colleagues and all the other members of An Garda Síochána. I also express our gratitude and support for their continued work in the service of their communities. We must all be united in our determination to find those who perpetrated this crime. I know An Garda Síochána is determined to do so, but all of us, as citizens, must assist it in that work.

Ba mhaith liom mo chomhbhrón a ghabháil le bean agus le clann Adrian Donohoe agus cúnamh a thabhairt dá chomhleacaithe ins an Gharda Síochána agus seasamh leo. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

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