An annual national memorial day should be held commemorating all garda officers killed in the line of duty, garda representatives said today.
The Garda Survivors Support Association (GSSA) said the time was right for Ireland to remember officers who have given their lives.
Former president of the Garda Representative Association Dermot O'Donnell said the Government should move in line with Britain and set aside an annual day where the sacrifice of fallen officers would be officially commemorated.
"The GSSA has a central role to play in such a Memorial Day and are happy to take the lead in this regard."
"We are looking forward to being joined by representatives of the wider police family in the State, from the Garda Commissioner through to all staff associations, social and professional organisations, members serving and retired, surviving family members and other loved ones and the Minister and officials of the Department of Justice," he said.
He was speaking at the inaugural GSSA memorial day in central Dublin.
Meanwhile the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice Michael McDowell attended the GSSA Memorial Day Mass at the Blessed Sacrament Church on Bachelors Walk, and laid a wreath at a Hawkins Street monument to commemorate Constable Patrick Sheahan of the Dublin Metropolitan Police.
Constable Sheahan died trying to save members of the public who fell into a sewer there just over a 100 years ago. A native of Glin in Co Limerick, he was on duty at O'Connell Bridge on May 6th 1905, having volunteered to cover for a colleague, when the tragic accident occurred.
Also attending today's event were members of the wider police family from other jurisdictions, including delegates from the PSNI and London Metropolitan Police in addition to the UK National Police Memorial Day Board, the UK Care Of Police Survivors (COPS) association and the RUC George's Cross Widows Association.
PA