‘He made Nicola and his children feel the same way over the last eight or nine years and the same applies to the communities where he was stationed as a garda’.
Advertisement
“He would go out of his way to make sure I was always safe”.
Both houses of the Irish parliament were closed for the day and all flags on state buildings across the republic were flying at half-mast in honour of garda Tony Golden. He was strong and dependable, kind and gentle.
“As Patrick his brother said to me, “a big gentle giant”, a lovely man”.
“Garda Tony’s death once again reflects how North Louth and the Cooley Peninsula have been affected by the tragic history of the Troubles on the island of Ireland, and especially the murder of Detective Garda Adrian O’Donohoe, three years ago at Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan”, he said.
He added: “Still today I’m so proud to stand here and call him my big brother, it was such a short life but he achieved so much in that time”.
“From sporting achievements where he graced Croke Park to his marriage to Nicola and the birth of his three attractive children”.
At the beginning of the service, symbols of the man’s ordinary life had been brought to the alter – a GAA jersey representing his love for hurling, a family photo and a few items that parish priest Pádraig Keenan said were part of his “time out”; his remote control, a can of Coke, a Drifter bar and a packet of Hunky Doreys.
And the crushed brother of Garda Golden, who was gunned down as he tried to protect a woman, described him as a “hero” and his “idol” as 8,000 people gathered earlier. It is 88 members too many.
Father Pádraig Keenan told mourners today it was a “cold-blooded murder” of a “guardian of the peace” in the line of duty.
“Tony quietly let his light shine in so many ways through his life in a very humble way”. Violence is wrong, always wrong.
“For now, we pray for Siobhan’s recovery and for the family of Garda Golden as they face their immeasurable grief”.
‘The pain and sympathy evoked by Tony’s death in the wider community has touched every one of us who works with and wears the blue uniform of An Garda Siochana, ‘ she said. His colleagues will carry him with them.
Advertisement
Garda Golden’s state funeral will take place on Thursday in St Oliver Plunkett Church in Blackrock, Louth. “Tony showed us a way to love that is better than anything else in life”. It was as if they wanted to close in around Nicola and the children, to shield and guard them in the same way Tony had protected them.
