A hero in the manner of his death while trying to save others, Garda Tony Golden was the quintessential protective big brother growing up in Farranoo, Ballina, Co Mayo, his younger sibling Patrick told his funeral Mass.
"As a child growing up I always looked up to Tony in every way," he told the 300 mourners of family, friends and dignitaries led by President Michael D Higgins and wife Sabina packed into St Oliver Plunkett's Church in Blackrock, Co Louth.
The dignified manner in which an estimated 4,000 gardaí turned out to form a spectacular guard of honour that ushered their fallen colleague to his final resting place seemed a world away from the senseless shooting that had taken his life at a domestic disturbance on Sunday night near the village of Omeath.
After fatally shooting Garda Golden, his killer Adrian Crevan Mackin (24) turned the gun on himself but not before leaving his partner and mother of his two children Siobhán Phillips (22) with life-threatening gunshot wounds.
The sight of Garda Golden’s widow Nicola and their three small children – youngest Andrew sucking a soother while his sisters Lucy and Alex clutched pink teddy bears – walking behind the hearse crystallised the shock and outpouring of grief nationwide.
Garda choir
Outside the church in the early afternoon sunshine of the Cooley peninsula, many of Garda Golden’s colleagues wept, especially during the singing of the Garda choir.
The tribute from the altar by his brother Patrick was met with applause from all of those gathered.
However, Garda Commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan’s address was noticeably not applauded by most of the group of about 100 Louth gardaí who formed the guard of honour in the church grounds as the media looked on.
Lack of applause
A number of sources in the force said the lack of applause was a subtle protest at how badly resourced the Garda had become, though others said they were not aware of any such protest.
They also pointed out Ms O’Sullivan’s address had been well received and applauded by the thousands of gardaí who had lined the streets away from the church grounds.
