Hundreds of people filled St Joseph’s Redemptorist Church in Dundalk last night to remember Det Garda Adrian Donohoe, one year after he was murdered outside a Co Louth credit union.
Chief celebrant Fr Eamon Hoey said the best way to honour Garda Donohoe was to emulate his character. “The best memorial for Adrian will not be something made of bronze or stone,” he said. “It will be something alive.
“Above all we will remember him best by imitating his faith and bravery and commitment – not just to work and to family, but to protecting people and keeping them safe from the evils that surround us.”
Fr Hoey added that the image of gardaí lining the streets for Garda Donohoe’s funeral “flashed around the country and beyond”. He described Garda Donohoe as a “guardian of the peace who laid down his life”.
Family
Garda Donohoe's wife Caroline, their two children and other family members were joined at last night's ceremony by Minister for Justice Alan Shatter and Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan.
Today marks the first anniversary of the death of the 41-year-old.
A candle-lit procession from Lordship Credit Union to the grounds of St Patrick’s Gaelic football club – where Mr Donohoe was a player and a mentor for youth teams – will be held at 9.30 tonight.
The chairman of St Patrick’s, Alan Duffy, told The Irish Times: “One year on we still miss him terribly, there’s a huge void,” adding that the “giant of a man” was well loved by everyone.
Also present at last night’s mass was Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams. Earlier in the day the Louth TD had expressed his “deepest sympathy” to Garda Donohoe’s family, friends and colleagues.