Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Ba mhaith liom mo chomhbhrón a dhéanamh le teaghlach agus le cairde na ndaoine a fuair bás sa tine i gCarraig Mhaighin maidin Dé Sathairn seo caite, le clann agus le cairde Garda Tony Golden a dúnmharaíodh oíche Dé Domhnaigh seo caite, le clann Adrian Mackin, le Siobhán Phillips agus a clann, leis an duine gan dídean a fuarthas marbh ag doras ar Shráid Westmoreland maidin Dé Domhnaigh, agus leis an Athair Gearóid Ó Donnchadha a fuair bás i dtine san Fhianait. The deaths of ten citizens, many of them children on a Traveller halting site in a horrifying fire, another apparent death of a homeless man in the capital and the brutal murder of Garda Tony Golden and the wounding of Siobhan Phillips have left families bereaved and traumatised and communities numb with shock and disbelief.

On behalf of Sinn Féin I extend my sincerest condolences to the extended families of Thomas and Sylvia Connors, their children Jim, Christy and Mary, who was aged just six months; William Lynch, his partner Tara Gilbert, their children Jodie and Kelsey and William's brother Jimmy. Tara was also pregnant with their third child.

I also want to express our condolences to the entire Traveller community. Today is a moment for the Dáil to stand in solidarity with that community, but we have to do more than that, it is a time also for that solidarity to be extended beyond rhetoric and into practical expressions. It is crucially important that the heartbreak arising from the calamity in Carrickmines galvanises Government and local authorities to prioritise living accommodation for Travellers and to ensure that the tragedy of Carrickmines is never repeated.

The morning after the fire in Carrickmines, the body of a homeless man in his 30s was found in the doorway of a shop on Westmoreland Street. While the circumstances of his death are still not entirely clear, I offer our condolences to his family and friends also.

Ba mhaith liom mo chomhbhrón ó chroí a dhéanamh le bean agus le clann Garda Tony Golden agus cúnamh a thabhairt dá gcomrádaithe sa Gharda Síochána agus seasamh leo. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam. Garda Tony Golden was murdered in Omeath. On behalf of Sinn Féin I extend my sympathies and solidarity to his family, his friends and his comrades in An Garda Síochána. Tony Golden was a respected, dedicated Garda officer who was deeply embedded in the community of Omeath and the Cooley Peninsula. On Sunday he was going about his work as a garda serving the community. He was brutally killed as he helped a young woman, a mother who was a victim of domestic abuse and violence. Today this Dáil rightly pays tribute to his courage, dedication and selflessness. He is a hero.

Adrian Mackin, who tried to murder his partner and who then brutally killed Garda Golden, was allegedly a violent dissident. Four years ago, so-called dissidents killed PSNI Constable Ronan Kerr. His mother, Nuala, speaking then said "We all need to stand up and be counted and to strive for equality. We don't want to go back to the dark days again of fear and terror." Nuala Kerr was right. She was right four years ago and her words are right again for today. None of these groups have anything positive to offer society. On behalf of the people of Louth and on behalf of Sinn Féin I want to make it clear that we have no time for those who exploit and disgrace the proud tradition and noble calling of republicanism for their own self serving and selfish ends.

These people are the enemies of republicanism. They are the enemies of the peace process and if any rational people are involved with these violent groups, the aftermath of the killing of Garda Golden and the wounding of Siobhan Phillips presents an opportunity for them to do the right thing, that is, to leave, do bheith imithe and to do it now. Members offer their best wishes to Siobhan Phillips and their sympathies to An Garda Síochána, which has lost a much respected and esteemed member of its service. Bhí Tony Golden gnóthach sa phobal mar bhall de Chumann Lúthchleas Gael agus mar bhall den scéim Pobal ar Aire, scéim lena dtacaíonn Sinn Féin go láidir sna Cooleys. Tá Contae Lú agus an tír ar fad síos leis mar gheall ar an tragóid seo. Ba mhaith liom arís mo chomhbhrón a dhéanamh le bean chéile agus le clann Tony Golden.

For the second time in three years, the people of the Cooley Peninsula and the Garda are grieving for an officer who served his community with distinction and integrity. It also has brought memories of the vicious slaying three years ago of Garda Adrian Donohoe, another garda serving the community who was gunned down by criminals. There are real questions about the lack of Garda resources in County Louth and about the Government's commitment to policing.

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