Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Certainly it was a weekend of tragedy for families throughout the country, when the ten family members at Carrickmines, County Dublin, perished. They were Thomas and Sylvia Connors, their children Jim, Christy and baby Mary, and William Lynch and Tara Gilbert and their daughters Kelsey and Jodie, and William's brother, Jimmy Lynch.So many people from that family have died that it is unbelievable that they would carry on with so many losses. There were also Jodie and Jimmy Lynch and his brother Willie. The fire in Carrickmines was an accident. That is the only consolation. Unfortunately, they were living in atrocious conditions and I am delighted that the Government has moved to carry out inspections of all sites throughout the country. There are some very bad situations.

I also offer my sympathies to Nicola and the three beautiful children on the death of Garda Tony Golden from Culleens, outside Ballina. I also offer my sympathies to his family, his colleagues, the Commissioner, members of the Garda Representative Association and all members of the force. They have lost a great and very loyal member, a community policeman who went to assist Siobhán Phillipson that day and was confronted with a situation in which he was shot dead and Ms Phillips is now in hospital. She has two children as well. These young children, without their fathers, now face a very uncertain future. Garda Golden was the 88th member of An Garda Síochána to die in the service of the State. We should always continue, as we do in this House, to have utter respect for members of the Garda Síochána, who are prepared every day to sacrifice lives to protect the people of this country. It is a very sad, tragic situation. Investigations will be carried out into what happened on this fateful day. We join our colleagues in expressing our deepest sympathy to all concerned.