The man shot dead outside his home in the south Sligo village of Monasteraden last week was described at his funeral yesterday as "a good father, a good community man and a good churchman". Life in the village came to a standstill as several hundred attended the funeral of Mr Terry Madden (51), a native of the area. He bled to death after he was shot in the back of both legs as he left his home at about 8 a.m. last Thursday. The Bishop of Achonry, Dr Thomas Flynn, who celebrated the mass with some 20 other clergymen, said Mr Madden was a great family man.
"He was equally a great community man, an active member of the church, proud of the Monasteraden neighbourhood and ever-anxious to see it prosper". The paramilitary-style attack stunned the community and gardai say they have not yet discovered a motive. Up to 50 officers, including detectives from Dublin and the Border region, are working on the case.
Local men staged a guard of honour along the short route from the Madden home to St Aidan's Church, and the village school closed for the afternoon.
The funeral was attended by the Garda Assistant Commissioner, Mr Kevin Carty and Insp Michael Barrett, who is leading the investigation.
A post-mortem was carried out on Mr Madden's body last Friday, but the funeral was delayed because his wife, Margaret, had to be hospitalised after the shooting. She suffered an asthma attack after discovering her husband was shot and was released from hospital only on Wednesday. Mrs Madden led mourners at the funeral yesterday, along with the couple's three grown-up children, Alan, Clare and Denise, two of whom are studying at the Institute of Technology in Sligo.
Mr Alan Madden paid an emotional tribute to his father during the ceremony, saying no problem had ever been too big for him. "It was the simplest things that made Dad happy. The smile on his face will always be remembered because there wasn't a time when he wasn't laughing and joking. He lived for his family and he would have done anything for us."
Dr Flynn told mourners there was no excuse or justification for the killing of an innocent human being.