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This is a list of Garda officers killed in the line of duty since the establishment of the Garda Síochána in 1922. The list includes all Gardaí who were killed in the service of the state (accidentally and unlawfully), as per the official Garda Síochána Roll of Honour.[1][2] The list does not include members of previous police services or other law enforcement agencies in the Republic of Ireland, nor those in Northern Ireland.
At least 23 serving Gardaí have been killed by individuals or groups associated with the Republican paramilitary groups,[3] this being the most common cause of death apart from accidents.
The most recent death was that of Detective Garda Colm Horkan, who was killed in June 2020, becoming the 89th member of the force to die on duty. [4]
Garda Síochána Roll of Honour edit
Note: Coloured rows denotes when officers were killed in the same incident.
| Name | Rank | Reg. No. | Age | Date of death | Circumstances | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colm Horkan | Detective | 26225M | 49 | 17 June 2020 | Murdered after being disarmed and shot with his own service pistol, during an incident on a mobile anti-crime patrol[5] | Castlerea, County Roscommon |
| Tony Golden | Garda | 29909L | 36 | 11 October 2015 | Murdered while attending a domestic dispute by dissident republican Adrian Crevan Mackin, who also shot and critically injured his partner before taking his own life[6] | Omeath, County Louth |
| Adrian Donohoe | Detective | 26222F | 41 | 25 January 2013 | Murdered by a criminal gang with links to dissident republicans during a credit union robbery | Jenkinstown, County Louth |
| Ciaran Jones | Garda | 34104E | 25 | 24 October 2011 | Accidentally swept away and drowned during floods while trying to warn motorists of the danger | Kilbride, County Wicklow |
| Gary McLoughlin | Garda | 31917A | 24 | 12 December 2009 | Unlawfully killed after the vehicle he was pursuing rammed his vehicle intentionally | Bridgend, County Donegal |
| Robbie McCallion | Garda | 31285A | 29 | 7 April 2009 | Killed after being hit by a vehicle driven by fleeing suspect he and colleagues were attempting to apprehend while stealing another vehicle | Letterkenny, County Donegal |
| Brian Kelleher | Garda | 23037E | 46 | 25 February 2007 | Accidentally killed by a vehicle while directing traffic away from the scene of an accident, fireman Michael Liston also died | Foynes, County Limerick |
| Paul Colleran | Garda | 26973E | 27 | 5 March 2003 | Accidentally killed in a road traffic collision travelling from court to Garda station | Kinnegad, County Westmeath |
| Michael John Padden | Garda | 27477A | 27 | 14 April 2002 | Killed in a vehicle collision attempting to intercept the vehicle of a robbery suspect | Stillorgan, County Dublin |
| Tony Tighe | Garda | 17644C | 53 | 14 April 2002 | Killed in a vehicle collision attempting to intercept the vehicle of a robbery suspect | Stillorgan, County Dublin |
| John Nicholas Eiffe | Detective Sergeant | 22294A | 40 | 7 December 2001 | Shot dead in a friendly fire incident during an arrest operation for the Garda National Surveillance Unit | Abbeyleix, County Laois |
| Desmond John Dixon | Detective | 23363C | 40 | 15 November 2001 | Accidentally killed in a road traffic collision while on duty for the Garda National Surveillance Unit | Dundalk, County Louth |
| James Brendan McIntyre | Garda | 26361C | 29 | 22 April 2001 | Accidentally killed in a road traffic collision while on mobile patrol | Ballyvolane, County Cork |
| George Brendan Rice | Garda | 22336M | 44 | 22 April 2001 | Accidentally killed in a road traffic collision while on mobile patrol | Ballyvolane, County Cork |
| Conor Oliver Griffin | Garda | 27489E | 25 | 15 May 2000 | Accidentally killed in a road traffic collision while responding to a callout | Finglas, County Dublin |
| Garreth Noel Harmon | Garda | 26650G | 28 | 15 May 2000 | Accidentally killed in a road traffic collision while responding to a callout | Finglas, County Dublin |
| Ambrose Fogarty | Garda | 26178E | 27 | 26 September 1999 | Accidentally killed in a road traffic collision while responding to Gardaí in distress | Enniscorthy, County Wexford |
| Richard Joseph Nolan | Garda | 21244L | 42 | 26 September 1999 | Accidentally killed in a road traffic collision while responding to Gardaí in distress | Enniscorthy, County Wexford |
| Andrew John Callanan | Sergeant | 22477D | 36 | 21 July 1999 | Set alight with petrol by deranged man who entered a Garda station, suffering fatal wounds | Tallaght, County Dublin |
| Eoin Peter Fitzgerald | Garda | 26158M | 25 | 26 January 1998 | Accidentally killed in a road traffic collision while on patrol | Blackrock, County Dublin |
| Jeremiah Desmond McCabe | Detective | 15860G | 53 | 7 June 1996 | Vehicle rammed, shot dead by Provisional IRA members during a cash-in-transit robbery | Adare, County Limerick |
| Paul Michael Reid | Detective Sergeant | 20655E | 39 | 18 May 1995 | Suffered fatal injuries after being shot at by a sniper, causing him to crash the vehicle he was driving (on duty with the United Nations Protection Force) | Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina) |
| Michael Joseph Lawless | Garda | 17751B | 41 | 20 January 1993 | Accidentally killed in a road traffic collision while en route to a union meeting | Cliffoney, County Sligo |
| William Anthony Roche | Garda | 21738G | 33 | 1 August 1992 | Accidentally killed by a vehicle while investigating a road traffic collision | Newbridge, County Kildare |
| Declan Roe | Garda | 23595D | 29 | 13 July 1992 | Accidentally killed in a road traffic collision while on road patrol | New Ross, County Wexford |
| John Edward Linehan | Garda | 24015L | 29 | 9 June 1992 | Accidentally killed in a road traffic collision while on official motorcycle training | Tullamore, County Offaly |
| Joseph F.X. Wilkinson | Garda | 13716B | 52 | 14 February 1990 | Accidentally killed in a road traffic incident while transferring a prisoner | Cashel, County Tipperary |
| John McMahon | Garda | 15062B | 47 | 27 January 1990 | Accidentally run over while on foot investigating criminal damage | Carlow, County Carlow |
| David Brian Dowd | Garda | 22762E | 26 | 18 February 1989 | Accidentally killed when hit by a train while pursuing thieves on foot | Sutton Park, County Dublin |
| Cyril Patrick Hickey | Garda | 24131H | 25 | 8 December 1988 | Accidentally killed in a road traffic collision while riding a motorcycle for the Garda Traffic Corps | South Quays, County Dublin |
| Noel Martin Conroy | Garda | 19207D | 36 | 28 October 1988 | Accidentally killed in a road traffic collision while on official motorcycle training with the Garda Traffic Corps | Birr, County Offaly |
| Patrick Joseph Morrissey | Sergeant | 14545K | 49 | 27 June 1985 | Murdered by the Irish National Liberation Army (INLA) following a bank robbery | Ardee, County Louth |
| Frank Hand | Detective | 20594L | 26 | 10 August 1984 | Ambushed and killed by the Provisional IRA while on cash escort duty for the Garda Special Branch | Drumree, County Meath |
| Gary Sheehan | Recruit | 23589L | 23 | 16 December 1983 | Fatally shot during the Don Tidey kidnapping by the Provisional IRA, Private Patrick Kelly (Irish Army) also killed | Ballinamore, County Leitrim |
| Denis Alphonsus Connolly | Garda | 20676H | 25 | 11 July 1983 | Accidentally killed in a road traffic collision while on duty with the Garda Traffic Corps | Lemybrien, County Waterford |
| Declan Francis O'Connor | Garda | 21517A | 24 | 17 May 1983 | Accidentally died after a road traffic incident on his motorcycle escorting a motorcade | Ballygall, County Dublin |
| Thomas J.A. Lawn | Detective | 21096L | 27 | 27 April 1983 | Accidentally killed in a road traffic collision while on duty for the Garda Special Task Force | Clontarf, County Dublin |
| Patrick Noel McLoughlin | Sergeant | 14679L | 41 | 11 April 1983 | Murdered at his home during the night by an assailant who fired from outside | Dunboyne, County Meath |
| John Joseph Brennan | Sergeant | 16595F | 37 | 4 August 1982 | Accidentally killed in a road traffic collision on patrol | Naas, County Kildare |
| Nathy Cawley | Garda | 16262M | 37 | 24 February 1982 | Accidentally killed in a road traffic collision while in a military explosives convoy | Broomfield, County Monaghan |
| Patrick Ruttledge | Garda | 17003H | 34 | 24 February 1982 | Accidentally killed in a road traffic collision while in a military explosives convoy | Broomfield, County Monaghan |
| Patrick Gerald Reynolds | Garda | 21281D | 23 | 20 February 1982 | Fatally shot by an Irish National Liberation Army (INLA) gunman after investigating a report of suspicious activity | Tallaght, County Dublin |
| James Gerard Downey | Garda | 20018B | 26 | 12 February 1982 | Accidentally killed in a road traffic collision while en route to specialist training | Blackrock, County Dublin |
| Seamus Quaid | Detective | 13497G | 42 | 13 October 1980 | Shot dead by a member of the Provisional IRA during an exchange of gunfire after stopping a vehicle containing explosives | Cleariestown, County Wexford |
| Henry Gerard Byrne | Garda | 18300H | 28 | 7 July 1980 | Shot dead by the Irish National Liberation Army (INLA) following a bank robbery | Ballaghaderreen, County Roscommon |
| John F. Morley | Detective | 15543H | 37 | 7 July 1980 | Shot dead by the Irish National Liberation Army (INLA) following a bank robbery | Ballaghaderreen, County Roscommon |
| Michael Augustine Clerkin | Garda | 18189G | 24 | 16 October 1976 | Killed after entering a premises boobytrapped (IED) by the Provisional IRA, other colleagues seriously injured | Portarlington, County Laois |
| Michael Joseph Reynolds | Garda | 17673G | 30 | 11 September 1975 | Shot in the head (off-duty) after following an armed gang who had robbed a bank | Killester, County Dublin |
| Walter James Hennelly | Garda | 18137D | 22 | 13 May 1974 | Accidentally struck down and killed by a vehicle at a road checkpoint | Limerick, County Limerick |
| John Martin Lally | Garda | 17992B | 21 | 5 May 1973 | Knocked down and killed while on foot at a checkpoint | Dundalk, County Louth |
| James Doody | Garda | 16116M | 28 | 7 January 1973 | Accidentally killed in a road traffic collision while responding to an emergency | Cork, County Cork |
| Brian A. MacNeill | Garda | 12689F | 42 | 23 October 1972 | Accidentally killed after being hit by a vehicle while conducting a roadside checkpoint | Charlestown, County Mayo |
| Samuel Donegan | Inspector | 8586 | 60 | 8 June 1972 | Killed by an IED laid by the Provisional IRA during a Garda/Defence Forces cross border search | Near Wattlebridge, County Fermanagh (Northern Ireland, United Kingdom) |
| Patrick Waters | Sergeant | 10114 | 45 | 18 November 1971 | Accidentally killed in a road traffic collision while responding to an emergency call | Sligo, County Sligo |
| Richard Christopher Fallon | Garda | 9936 | 43 | 3 April 1970 | Shot dead by members of Saor Éire during a bank robbery | Arran Quay, County Dublin |
| Seán Masterson | Garda | 14676E | 28 | 26 January 1970 | Accidentally killed in a road traffic collision on a motorcycle while on traffic duty | Naas Road, County Dublin |
| Michael Joyce | Sergeant | 6587 | 62 | 21 December 1967 | Accidentally killed in a road traffic collision while en route to apprehend a fugitive | Balbriggan, County Dublin |
| John Michael Fitzsimons | Sergeant | 10543M | 33 | 15 March 1963 | Accidentally stuck down and killed by a vehicle while investigating a road traffic collision | Monasterevin, County Kildare |
| John Flynn | Detective | 10445M | 32 | 16 November 1961 | Accidentally killed in a road traffic collision while escorting a prisoner | Daingean, County Offaly |
| Thomas Michael O'Driscoll | Garda | 10698 | 26 | 22 January 1958 | Accidentally killed in a road traffic collision while on counter-IRA patrol | Redhills, County Cavan |
| Vincent Ryan | Garda | 10094 | 29 | 18 September 1954 | Accidentally killed in a road traffic collision while on motorcycle traffic duty | Killiney, County Dublin |
| Patrick Foley | Garda | 8786 | 56 | 11 November 1953 | Accidentally killed by a vehicle while on foot patrol | Ardnacrusha, County Clare |
| Richard Cody | Sergeant | 1315 | 55 | 8 April 1952 | Accidentally killed by a vehicle while on pedestrian duty | Tullow, County Carlow |
| Seán Gantly | Chief Superintendent | 4804 | 49 | 21 January 1948 | Shot dead accidentally during a search by detectives for escaped prisoners, was head of Garda Special Branch | Dublin Docklands, County Dublin |
| James Byrne | Garda | 7779 | 38 | 25 September 1946 | Shot dead while on plainclothes protection duty by a fellow officer, who was convicted of murder | Pallasgreen, County Limerick |
| Denis Harrington | Garda | 4034 | 44 | 17 April 1944 | Shot dead by a fellow officer in his Garda station, who then killed himself (murder-suicide) | Nenagh, County Tipperary |
| George Mordaunt | Detective | 6712 | 45 | 24 October 1942 | Shot dead during a raid on an IRA safe house by Garda Special Branch. An IRA member was subsequently executed for his role in the shooting.[7] | Donnycarney, County Dublin |
| Michael Walsh | Detective | 6658 | 41 | 1 October 1942 | Shot dead attempting to apprehend a wanted criminal in a house raid | Kilnaleck, County Cavan |
| Denis O'Brien | Detective Sergeant | 8288 | 43 | 9 September 1942 | Ambushed and assassinated by the Anti-Treaty IRA at home because of his work for the Garda Special Branch | Ballyboden, County Dublin |
| Richard Hyland | Detective | 8333 | 36 | 16 August 1940 | Shot dead by members of the Anti-Treaty IRA during a Garda Special Branch raid | Rathgar, County Dublin |
| Patrick McKeown | Detective Sergeant | 11919 (DMP) | 39 | 16 August 1940 | Shot dead by members of the Anti-Treaty IRA during a Garda Special Branch raid | Rathgar, County Dublin |
| John Gerald O'Donnell | Garda | 6481 | 35 | 19 July 1940 | Accidentally drowned after saving two girls from drowning at sea | Ballybunion, County Kerry |
| John Roche | Detective | 4905 | 34 | 3 January 1940 | Shot dead after stopping and attempting to question a member of the Anti-Treaty IRA on the street | St. Patrick's Street, Cork |
| Patrick Forde | Sergeant | 5802 | 30 | 18 January 1934 | Accidentally drowned after the vehicle left the road following a patient transfer | Connemara, County Galway |
| Michael Joseph Kennelly | Garda | 1408 | 38 | 18 January 1934 | Accidentally drowned after the vehicle left the road following a patient transfer | Connemara, County Galway |
| Eugene McCarthy | Garda | 7912 | 25 | 8 January 1933 | Accidentally drowned after rescuing a person from a river | George's Quay, County Cork |
| Patrick McGeehan | Detective | 7794 | 28 | 14 February 1932 | Fatally wounded after attempting to shield Patrick Reynolds from assassination while on close protection duty | Ballinamore, County Leitrim |
| John David Curtin | Superintendent | 783 | 28 | 21 March 1931 | Ambushed and assassinated by members of the Anti-Treaty IRA for his work combatting them | Tipperary, County Tipperary |
| Timothy O'Sullivan | Detective | 6670 | 32 | 11 June 1929 | Suffered fatal injuries following an IED explosion, which was set as a targeted trap | Knock, County Clare |
| William Nolan | Garda | 11369 (DMP) | 33 | 19 August 1928 | Accidentally killed by a vehicle while directing traffic on foot | Stillorgan, County Dublin |
| James Fitzsimons | Sergeant | 2566 | 23 | 14 November 1926 | Murdered in his Garda station by members of the Anti-Treaty IRA | Cork, County Cork |
| Hugh Ward | Garda | 5663 | 29 | 14 November 1926 | Murdered in his Garda station by members of the Anti-Treaty IRA | Hollyford, County Tipperary |
| John Alphonsus Murrin | Garda | 3919 | 26 | 19 October 1924 | Fatally shot by an individual while entering a premises to investigate a shooting incident (died some months later) | Carrick-on-Suir, County Tipperary |
| Thomas Griffin | Sergeant | 814 | 25 | 6 May 1924 | Fatally shot by an individual while entering a premises to investigate a shooting incident (died soon after) | Carrick-on-Suir, County Tipperary |
| Arthur Nolan | Detective | 11993 (DMP) | 39 | 11 March 1924 | Struck over the head with a hatchet in his Garda station on 29 February 1924 by an intruder and died on 11 March, worked for Dublin Metropolitan Police | Pearse Street, County Dublin |
| Patrick O'Halloran | Garda | 651 | 27 | 29 January 1924 | Shot dead at point-blank range pursuing armed criminal bank raiders | Baltinglass, County Wicklow |
| James Woods | Sergeant | 2358 | 23 | 3 December 1923 | Murdered in his Garda station after resisting an armed raid by insurgents | Scartaglen, County Kerry |
| Henry Phelan | Garda | 1347 | 21 | 14 November 1922 | Murdered in a sports shop by armed Anti-Treaty IRA intruders | Mullinahone, County Tipperary |
| Charles Eastwood | Civic Guard | 1017 | 19 | 20 September 1922 | Accidentally shot dead by a colleague | Ship Street Barracks, Dublin |
See also edit
- Scott Medal
- List of Irish military casualties overseas
- List of British police officers killed in the line of duty
- List of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty in the United States
- List of Australian Federal Police killed in the line of duty
- List of New Zealand police officers killed in the line of duty
References edit
- ^ "An Garda Síochána Roll of Honour List" (PDF). 2010. An Garda Síochána. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 May 2014. Retrieved 28 May 2014.
- ^ "Garda Siochana Roll of Honour". 2013. Police History. Archived from the original on 27 June 2014. Retrieved 28 May 2014.
- ^ "Terrorism". Dept of Justice and Equality. Archived from the original on 20 December 2020. Retrieved 13 February 2017.
- ^ "Garda killed in shooting tragedy named as Detective Garda Colm Horkan". The Connaught Telegraph. 18 June 2020. Archived from the original on 18 June 2020. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
- ^ "Murdered officer was 'one of nature's gentlemen'". BBC News. 21 June 2020. Archived from the original on 21 June 2020. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
- ^ "Garda killer Adrian Crevan Mackin cremated in Belfast". irishtimes.com. Irish Times. 17 October 2017. Archived from the original on 8 February 2016. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
Dissident republican murdered Garda Tony Golden in Co Louth last week
- ^ "TG4 documentary on O'Neill execution". independent.ie. Independent News & Media. 27 April 2011. Archived from the original on 9 January 2018. Retrieved 3 April 2020.