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Statement of An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar T.D., On the death of Garda Colm Horkan

Ceann Comhairle,

Before I make my statement I want to endorse what was said earlier about the death of Detective Garda Colm Horkan.

The remarkable outpouring of grief we saw over the weekend says a lot about our values as a country and the respect we have for the men and women who uphold our laws. Whenever we lose a member of An Garda Sióchána in the line of duty it wounds us all and we grieve as a nation.  

At the funeral, Colm’s brother Brendan remembered his achievements on the sporting pitch and said, ‘He never let the jersey down.’

The exact same thing could be said of his career as a Garda. He never let the uniform down. He never let us down, the people he had sworn to serve.

Our condolences go to his family and friends, and the people of Charlestown and the members of An Garda Siochana.

 Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.