Dáil debates

Wednesday, 24 June 2020

Death of Garda Colm Horkan: Expressions of Sympathy

 

9:55 am

Photo of Michael FitzmauriceMichael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Last Sunday, we listened to the words of a priest in Castlerea as he spoke of how, when word came through that a garda had been shot, he had pitied whoever would have to deliver the news to the family the following morning. There is shock and numbness in the community, not alone in Castlerea and Charlestown but right around the country.

To hear people talk about Detective Garda Colm Horkan, if a person was in a pub drinking, he would bring that person home. He was a commonsensical person and was not bound by the notebook; he worked with the community by bringing people with them. To his father, Marty, to his brothers, to his sister, and we also must remember his late mother and twin sister, I offer my condolences and those of communities right around this country. I have listened to many people referring both to his involvement in the GAA in Charleston and right around the community, where he talked to the elderly and where whatever he could do, he did. Now it is the community’s turn because after a funeral comes a lull. After the time of the hustle and bustle of the few days when people have been sympathising passes, it is from then on that that family needs support. It is from now on that the Garda community, the Commissioner said this the other day, and the people of Charlestown and of the wider area need to stand by and support that family.

I offer my condolences as well to the whole Garda community. We must remember Garda Byrne and Garda Morley who also lost their lives 40 years ago. It is poignant today that we stand up and salute Detective Garda Colm Horkan but we must remember that each garda who goes out on the front line never knows what is around the corner and we have to respect them. Our prayers and our thoughts are with the Horkan family and I ask people in that area to keep supporting them.

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