Very sad news.
The Garda Representative Association (GRA) has paid tribute to two Gardaí who lost their lives over the weekend.
Garda David Hearne and Garda John McCallion both died over the weekend in separate incidents. Hearne died while diving off the coast of Wexford while McCallion passed away while cycling in Mayo.
John McCallion was a serving Garda and was a brother of Garda Robert McCallion, who died when he was hit by a speeding car while on duty in Letterkenny, Donegal in 2009.
On Monday, GRA President Jim Mulligan paid tribute to Garda Hearne and Garda McCallion following their untimely deaths this weekend.
“On behalf of the Garda Representative Association, I want to express heartfelt sympathies to the families, friends and colleagues of Garda David Hearne and Garda John McCallion, both of whom died tragically over the weekend,” Mulligan said.
“Garda Hearne was attached to the Traffic Corps in the South East and stationed in Waterford.
“David was regarded as a hero for his work as a Garda diver, earning bravery awards for saving manylives.
“Garda McCallion, who died while cycling near his hometown of Swinford, Co Mayo, came from a family of gardai.
“His death will be particularly painful for his family because his brother, Robbie was killed in the line of duty in Co Donegal ten years’ ago last month.
“The Garda Siochána have lost two great members who were inspirational colleagues to everyone in the organisation and great friends to many members.
“The passing of both men is all the more tragic considering they leave behind seven children between them.”
Ceann Comhairle, Seán Ó Fearghaíl, TD, Chair of the Bravery Awards Council, also expressed his sadness and shock at the death of Garda David Hearne.
“I was deeply saddened to learn of the tragic death of Garda Hearne in Wexford,” Fearghaíl said.
“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.”
Main image via Oireachtas
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