Terribly sad.
Tributes have poured in for Garda David Hearne, who died on Saturday (25 May) while off-duty. Hearne had been taking part in recreational diving at Hook Head in Wexford.
Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Fearghaíl TD, who is also the Chair of the Bravery Awards Council, spoke highly of the late Hearne. Hearne had won the Certificate of Bravery just three years ago, for saving a man from drowning.
He said: “I was deeply saddened to learn of the tragic death of Garda Hearne in Wexford. He was a worthy recipient of a certificate of bravery in 2016 which was awarded to him for rescuing a man from the Colligan River some years earlier.
“In his selfless service to others, Garda Hearne followed in the footsteps of his father, Declan, who was a bravery award recipient in 1958. My thoughts and prayers are with Garda Hearne’s wife, children and wider family at this time.”
An Garda Síochána also took pains to note that Hearne did not die during a search and recovery operation as currently reported in the media, which was reported by some media outlets.
Hearne’s passing was the second death of an off-duty Garda over the course of the weekend.
Garda John McCallion died in Mayo on Friday, of natural causes, while he was cycling his bike.
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