Garden of Reflection opened at Dundalk Garda Station

Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe and Garda Tony Golden, members of An Garda Síochána who lost their lives in the line of duty, were remembered at a special ceremony last Friday at the official opening of a Garden of Reflection in their honour at Dundalk Garda Station.

The event was hosted by Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly, and was attended by family members of Detective Garda Donohoe and Garda Golden, and the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, Jim O'Callaghan TD.

Minister O'Callaghan was formally met at the event by Garda Commissioner Kelly and a formal Guard of Honour. Speaking at the opening of the memorial, Minister O'Callaghan said: “Today, we dedicate this space to the enduring memory of two men who served their communities, and the State, with distinction and honour. May it be a place to reflect, to remember, and to revere the lives of two remarkable men.

“May it be a place where the memories of both Adrian and Tony are cherished, and where their example will continue to inspire all who visit, now and for generations to come.”

In his speech, the Minister went on to say that: “When a Garda is lost in the line of duty, it is an immense loss felt by the men and women of An Garda Síochána, by the community they served and by the country but most deeply by their family and friends.

“We gather to honour that sacrifice and to remember the values Adrian and Tony embodied – their courage, their compassion, and their commitment to others.”

Minister O'Callaghan added, “To the families of Adrian and Tony, we offer our deepest gratitude for the service and sacrifice of your loved ones.

“To the members of An Garda Síochána, we commit to supporting you in your work and to upholding the values your colleagues lived by. May their courage, their compassion, and their commitment never be forgotten. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a n-anamacha.”

Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was born in January 1972 in Kilnaleck, Co Cavan, grew up on a small farm with his three brothers and two sisters. He joined An Garda Síochána in 1994 and was married with two children. He served for 19 years and was awarded the Gold Scott Medal, the highest honour for bravery that can be conferred on a member of An Garda Síochána.

At 9:30pm on the 25th January 2013 Detective Garda Donohoe and his colleague Detective Garda Joe Ryan entered the car park of the Lordship Credit Union, Dundalk, Co Louth on a routine cash escort. A dark coloured car entered the car park with up to four people inside it. One person got out of this car and fired a shot fatally injuring Detective Garda Donohoe.

Garda Anthony Golden, who was 36 at the time, came from Ballina, Co Mayo. Anthony was married to Nicola and they have three children.

On Sunday 11 October 2015 Garda Golden was on duty at Omeath Garda Station. Shortly after 6.00pm Garda Golden left Omeath Garda Station, in uniform and unarmed, with a female who, accompanied by her father, had just made a formal complaint of assault against her partner. Garda Golden followed the woman and her father to the house that she shared with her partner at Mullach Alainn, Omeath to continue with the investigation.

Garda Golden accompanied the woman and entered the house at Mullach Alainn, in the knowledge that the alleged offender was inside. The woman’s father remained outside on the advice of Garda Golden. After a short period of time, the woman’s father heard three shots in quick succession, a brief pause and then three more shots. The woman’s father ran immediately to a nearby house to get assistance.

Garda Gerard O’Callaghan was on patrol in the Cooley area when he received a call that shots had been fired at Mullach Alainn, Omeath, and that Garda Golden was not answering his radio.

Garda O’Callaghan immediately went to the scene and discovered Garda Golden lying in the hallway with serious gunshot injuries, which sadly proved to be fatal.