Last Friday night I was shocked and horrified when I received a call to let me know that a brave young Garda, Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, had been brutally murdered while protecting our community.
When the news spread the reaction of people across the country was the same.
The Irish people rightly have great respect and admiration for members of An Garda Síochána and the work they do in protecting the community. They regard an attack on a member of An Garda Síochána for what it is - an attack on the community itself.
There are no words strong enough to condemn the evil people who carried out such a despicable and brutal act.
I join with the party leaders in again expressing my deep condolences to those have been most directly affected by this great tragedy: Adrian's wife, Caroline, his children, Amy and Niall, his parents, his siblings and extended family, his friends and his colleagues. Their grief will endure but I hope, in time, they will find some fortitude in the great outpouring of support there has been for them from so many decent people.
The men and women of An Garda Síochána are called on frequently to place their lives on the line so that we can be safe. But it is still a great shock for them to lose a colleague. So it is important that we say to them today, on behalf of the people we represent, that we stand with An Garda Síochána at this very difficult time.
As the House would expect, I have been in regular contact with the Garda Commissioner since this dreadful event. And yesterday I visited Dundalk Garda station where I met many of Adrian's colleagues.
I can tell the House that the depth of their grief is matched only by their resolute determination that those who carried out this evil act are brought to the justice they deserve.
The Gardaí are devoting huge resources to this investigation and, as the Garda Commissioner has said, there is no question of there not being sufficient resources to carry out an investigation of this kind. They have a great range of legal powers available to them and this House, rightly, has in its laws provided that anyone convicted of the murder of a Garda must face a minimum mandatory sentence of 40 years.
I can assure the House too that the Gardaí are receiving every possible assistance from the Police Service of Northern Ireland. Justice Minister David Ford telephoned me on Saturday to offer his condolences and assure me that the PSNI will do everything they can to help. So also did Theresa Villiers, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. I never had any doubt that the PNSI would offer their full support, given the excellent relations and ongoing everyday cooperation between the two police forces, but I am very grateful to both Minister Ford and Minister Villiers.
There has, understandably, been speculation about who was responsible for this brutal act. I do not believe that it is appropriate for me to speculate publicly about that but I can say one thing with certainty: whatever their background, it was a cold-blooded gang who deliberately took the life of a member of An Garda Síochána. Garda Commissioner Callinan has emphasised publicly that there are people who have information about what happened and they should come forward. We would all add our voice to that appeal. Those that have information that might help track down these despicable murderers and who choose to stay silent should consider carefully how they would feel if it was their husband, or father, or son, or brother who was murdered in cold blood.
I will, of course, pass on to the Garda Commissioner the messages of sympathy and support here today.
It is important that this House has united, not just in expressing its heartfelt sympathy, but in making clear its determination that the evil cowards who committed such an unspeakable act will not prevail.