Mayo garda detective shot dead in Castlerea incident

A Mayo garda detective has died in a shooting incident in Castlerea.

The shooting happened near Castlerea Garda Station on the main street of the town late last night.

The armed detective was on duty on his own in Castlerea when he was shot just before midnight.

A man in his 40s has been arrested and is being held at Castlerea Garda Station.

A murder investigation is under way.

In a statement An Gardaí Siochana said: "It is with deepest sadness An Garda Síochána confirms the death of our colleague, resulting from fatal gunshot wounds received during an incident in Castlerea shortly before midnight on Wednesday 17th June 2020. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam."

Gardaí are now trying to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.

An ambulance crew that was in the area at the time treated the garda, but he died at the scene.

His immediate family were informed in the early hours of this morning.

He is the 89th garda to die in the line of duty since the force was founded in the 1920s.

The scene has been preserved for a forensic examination and the State Pathologist's Office has been informed.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has expressed his sympathies to the family and friends of the garda who died.

He said: "Every day our gardaí put themselves on the frontline of crime prevention, on behalf of all of us.

"This requires regular acts of bravery and courage. Sometimes the outcome is tragic and a garda makes the ultimate sacrifice in the course of their duties.

"Our thoughts today are with all those grieving as a result of this tragic incident."

Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan has expressed his shock and sadness at the shooting.

He said: "I want to express my heartfelt sympathy to the parents and family of the brave garda who died doing his duty serving his community and to the wider family of An Garda Síochána who will be heartbroken.

"Our gardaí work to keep Ireland safe at all times and this is a very difficult day for all of them and their families."

President Michael D. Higgins has also extended his sympathy to the deceased garda's family.

He said: “News of the tragic death of a garda detective on duty in Castlerea has come as a shock to us all.

“An Garda Síochána play a crucial role in our communities and this loss of life damages our society as a whole.

“May I offer my deepest sympathy to the family, friends and colleagues of the garda, and to all those who have been affected by this tragedy.

“I have contacted the Garda Commissioner to express my deepest sympathies on this terrible loss of a member of the force.”

The president of the Garda Representative Association Jim Mulligan, stated: “On behalf of the GRA, I extend our deepest sympathy to the family of our colleague fatally shot in the line of duty in Castlerea, Co. Roscommon overnight.

“Our brave colleague died as result of injuries sustained when he was responding to an incident. He was based in Ballaghaderreen, Co. Roscommon, in the Castlerea District.

“A native of Mayo, he joined An Garda Síochána in 1995, and was an experienced detective greatly respected by colleagues.

“He is survived by his father, sister and four brothers.

“Our thoughts are with his family and colleagues at this very distressing time.

“Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.”