The Garda Commissioner, Mr Pat Byrne, is expected to visit the families of the two gardaí killed in last Sunday's "joyriding" incident in south Co Dublin when he returns from a foreign holiday next week, writes Jim Cusack, Security Editor.
A decision was made at the start of the week to allow Mr Byrne to remain on holiday in the Canary Islands and that his place would be taken by Deputy Commissioner Noel Conroy at this week's two funerals.
Deputy Commissioner Conroy is a native of Belmullet, Co Mayo, where Garda Michael Padden grew up and where he was buried on Thursday. The acting commissioner also led the Garda mourners at the funeral in Dublin of Garda Tony Tighe.
Commissioner Byrne last week attended an EU chiefs of police conference held by the Spanish Presidency in Gran Canaria. He remained on the island and was joined by family members for a holiday last weekend. He is due back at work on Monday.
A spokesman for the Garda yesterday said the Commissioner had been in touch with his headquarters from last Sunday morning and had agreed with the arrangements made in his absence.
While individual gardaí in Dublin were critical of this decision there has been no criticism of Commissioner Byrne from any of the Garda representative associations. Members of the associations privately rejected criticism and pointed out that, if anything, Commissioner Byrne, who comes from a Garda family, has always displayed great loyalty at such times.
The Commissioner will be visiting the families and relatives of the two dead officers on his return.