GARDAÍ PAY TRIBUTE TO COLM
GARDAÍ across County Wicklow stood to attention at midday on Sunday, in memory of their deceased colleague, Detective Garda Colm Horkan.
Garda Horkan (49) died following a shooting incident in Castlerea, County Roscommon, the previous Wednesday night.
His funeral Mass took place in St James’s church his native Charlestown, County Mayo, last Sunday.
He was laid to rest in the adjoining cemetery on Church Street.
Gardaí from local divisions formed a guard of honour in the town, with the people of Charlestown lining the streets.
Due to Covid-19 restrictions, numbers within the church were limited.
Mourners stood outside the church, and also attended the local GAA pitch where Mass was streamed.
Others across the nation observed the streaming of the funeral Mass online, live from St James’s.
On Saturday night, around midnight, Sarsfield GAA formed a guard of honour in the town, and the people came out of their houses as Colm was brought home for the last time.
Minister for Health Simon Harris stood with gardaí and emergency services in Bray on Sunday, in memory of the beloved garda.
Also in attendance at the Bray ceremony were retired members of An Garda Síochána, including former chief superintendent Tom Conway and former superintendent Michael Lernihan. The flag flew at half mast at Bray Fire Station, its fire fighters also attending Bray Garda Station in honour of Detective Garda Horkan.
First responders, other emergency service personnel, and members of the public, observed a moment of silence at garda stations all over the county. At Wicklow Garda Station, The Last Post was played in Colm’s memory, followed by a round of applause in his honour.
Colm’s brother Brendan said on Sunday at the funeral that the outpouring of tributes has given the family strength. ‘Colm was a gem, he was a son and brother like no other,’ he said. ‘He had all the values you would associate with a good and decent human being.’
Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan attended the funeral, as did Garda Commissioner Drew Harris.
Monsignor Tommy Johnston told mourners that the gunshots that rang out in the early hours of Wednesday morning echoed not just in the town of Castlerea but right across the country, ‘spreading a story of tragedy and sadness and the loss of life of a Detective Garda’.
Stephen Silver (43) has been charged with the murder of Detective Garda Horkan.