Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I join other Senators in sympathising with Senators Henry and Clune on the recent deaths of their mothers. I also sympathise with the de Buitléar family on the death of former Senator Éamon de Buitléar.

In particular, I join my colleagues in condemning, in the strongest possible terms, the vicious and callous murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, who was a native of Kilnaleck, County Cavan. Detective Garda Donohoe and his family are highly respected in the local community around the small village. On behalf of the people of County Cavan, I extend my sympathies to his wife, two small children, parents and immediate family in Kilnaleck.

The media have used words such as "assassination", "fatally injured" and "killed" but there is only one way to describe what took place and that is "murder most foul". I condemn it in the strongest possible terms and commend the Leader on proposing to adjourn the House tomorrow after the Order of Business to allow those Members who are able to do so to attend Detective Garda Donohoe's funeral in Dundalk and show our support to his family and the Garda Síochána whose members risk their lives daily to protect the rest of us. I concur with the statement by the leader of my party that today is not the day to take this debate any further. An urgent debate on policing, particularly in rural areas, is required and the issues raised by Senator MacSharry must be addressed urgently.