Killarney pauses to honourfallencomrade

Memorials to slain garda Colm Horkan held in Killarney, Tralee and Listowel on Sunday

GARDAÍ across the county were united in their grief last weekend as their colleague Detective Garda Colm Horkan was laid to rest on Sunday following his tragic death in the line of duty.

The loss of a beloved member of the force, while serving his country, has been met with disbelief, shock and sadness, across An Garda Siochána and the nation as a whole.

The 49-year-old was buried on Sunday afternoon in the graveyard adjoining St James’s Church following a service in his hometown of Charlestown, County Mayo.

Detective Garda Horkan was killed on Wednesday night when he was shot several times while responding to an incident in Castlerea, County Roscommon. Stephen Silver (43), of Aughaward, Foxford, County Mayo, was remanded in custody on Friday night charged with his murder.

In Kerry, Garda Horkan’s colleagues joined forces to pay their respects to the hard-working, diligent and loyal member of the force, whose life was cut short serving his country. In Listowel, Tralee and Killarney, memorials took place to honour their colleague.

Detective Garda Horkan is the 89th garda to die in the line of duty since the force was founded in the 1920s. His untimely and shocking death is a reminder to all members of An Garda Siochána the danger they face, and a reminder to the nation of the selfless work of the force.

Garda Noel Steede, who is based in Dingle Garda Station, and who spoke at a ceremony in Tralee Garda Station, was a close friend of Detective Garda Horkan,Heworkedinthesame unit as him while was based in Castlerea.

“He was the sole embodiment of what a good person should be and what a good garda is.” Diligent, conscientious, empathetic and friendly were just some of the many ways to describe him, said Garda Steede.

“He was the most level-headed garda I ever worked with in my career.”

He said his the news of his death was ‘gut-wrenching’.

Chairperson of the Kerry Garda Representative Association (GRA), Eddie Walsh, said that the death of Garda Horkan is a ‘national tragedy’

“Every member that goes to work expects to return safely. The loss of any member of the force is a national tragedy. The news of his death has left all of us numbed with grief at the loss of a beloved member of the force,” he said.

Mr Walsh and Garda Steede both expressed their sympathy to the family of Garda Horkan on their huge loss.

An Garda Siochana in Kerry were joined in a tribute to Garda Horkan by members of emergency services across the county.

Members of the Gardaí at the memorial ceremony The scene at the memorial ceremony.

Photo by Michelle Cooper Galvin Supt Flor Murphy addressing the large attendence at the Memorial ceremony and minute’s silence for the late Det Garda Colm Horkan at Killarney Garda Station at midday on Sunday.

Galvin Photo by Michelle Cooper Chairman of the Kerry Garda Representatives Association Garda Eddie Walsh signs the book of Condolence for Det Garda Colm Horkan, with Garda Marcus Dowling at Killarney Garda Station on Friday.

Photos by Michelle Cooper Galvin Members of the Kerry Fire and Rescue Services at the ceremony. Members of the Gardaí at the memorial ceremony and minute silence for the late Det. Garda Colm Horkan at Killarney Garda Station on Sunday. Members of the Killarney First Response stand in silence.