Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 17 Apr 2002

Vol. 552 No. 1

Deaths of Gardaí and Soldier: Expressions of Sympathy.

The Taoiseach

I take the opportunity to offer on behalf of the Government and the Fianna Fáil and Progressive Democrats Parties my sincere condolences to the family and friends of the two brave gardaí, Garda Tony Tighe and Garda Michael Padden, who lost their lives at the weekend. The whole country has been immensely moved by the tragic deaths of these two men who gave their lives in the service of the community, protecting members of the public, just half an hour after coming on duty in the early hours of Sunday morning last.

The nation was just learning of the awful circumstances of this terrible tragedy when we were further shocked by the news of the death of Private Peadar Flaherty in the service of the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor. Again, I offer my sincere condolences and those of the Government parties to Private Flaherty's family, friends and colleagues. These three brave men made the ultimate sacrifice dying in the service of their country. We remember Tony, Michael, Peadar and their families in our prayers. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

Mr. Noonan

I take the opportunity to extend the sympathy of my colleagues and the Fine Gael Party to the families, friends and colleagues of Garda Tony Tighe, Garda Michael Padden and Private Peadar Ó Flaithearta, all of whom gave their lives in recent days while on duty and serving the public interest. In the immediate aftermath of the tragedies which have brought such overwhelming sadness, I hope that the bereaved will take some small consolation from the outpouring of public grief which has been so obvious all over the country in the past few days.

The work done by peacemakers such as Private Ó Flaithearta serving under the auspices of the United Nations, in his case in East Timor, is frequently acknowledged at home and abroad. As a country we rightly take pride in the professionalism with which members of the Army and Garda Síochána have carried out their duties in so many overseas locations during the past 40 years. They have done much to bring honour to this country and have contributed significantly to the making and maintenance of peace in the many jurisdictions where they have served.

At home, the work of gardaí is so pervasive in our lives that we do not give it the public acknowledgement and appreciation it deserves often enough. They have been so successful in fully integrating themselves into the communities in which they are stationed that we are at times inclined to take for granted the many services which they perform both day and night for 365 days of the year to ensure that the rest of us can get on with our lives.

We should never underestimate the sacrifices and risks undertaken for us by members of the Garda Síochána. Garda Tighe and Garda Padden were the fortieth and forty-first members of the force to die on duty. Like so many before them, when they responded to the call for help in the early hours of last Sunday morning they knew they were exposing themselves to risk, but in the ultimate act of human courage they put the safety and security of our community above their own.

In paying tribute today to their personal act of heroism we also pay tribute to the force as a whole. The Garda Síochána has always been here for the citizens of this country. There is not a man, woman or child who does not owe it a debt of gratitude. The Garda is there for us in good times and bad, in times of crisis and normality, in our moments of sorrow and joy. On this sad occasion, it is appropriate that from this House we send the men and women of the Garda Síochána a message of solidarity. We stand with you, we pledge that you will receive all the support, legislative and material, that you require to serve the people of this country as loyally and effectively as you have done for so many years.

I reiterate my sympathy to the families of Garda Tony Tighe, Garda Michael Padden and Private Peadar Ó Flaithearta. May they rest in peace.

Mr. Quinn

On behalf of the Labour Party, I extend the sincerest condolences of my party to the relatives and families of Garda Tony Tighe, Garda Mick Padden and Private Peadar Ó Flaithearta. When I heard the news on Sunday morning I immediately contacted Donnybrook Garda Station from where the two gardaí earlier left to go on duty. I expressed my condolences directly to the sergeant in charge, superintendent Gerry Phillips and his colleagues in the Garda station. I ask the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces and the Minister for Defence to convey directly to the family of the soldier killed on UN duty on behalf of the Republic of Ireland our appreciation for the work he did and sympathy for the tragic circumstances in which his unfortunate death took place. It brings home to us all the true nature of public service and the lives of those engaged in public service on our behalf.

Uniquely, the Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces provide a front line of defence for citizens of the State. Many of their members have died in the course of that duty. Such occasions bring home to us all the nature of their job, the danger they face on our behalf, the risks they frequently face and the injuries, including death, which they sometimes sustain. On my own behalf and that of my party, I offer our wholehearted condolences to the family and relatives of the three unfortunate victims in recent days.

Mr. Sargent

Thar cheann an Chomhaontais Ghlais, the Green Party, ba mhaith liom comhbhrón a dhéanamh le muintir Gharda Tony Tighe, Garda Michael Padden agus an saighdiúir, Peadar Ó Flatharta. Ba mhaith liom comhbhrón a dhéanamh chomh maith leis an Arm agus an Garda Síochána a oibríonn ar ár son, go minic go ciúin agus i gcónaí go láidir.

This is a small country and the loss of two gardaí and one soldier in such tragic circumstances has an inordinately deep effect on the community. The violent deaths of the two gardaí throw into sharp relief the unacceptability of such behaviour in a small country which still possesses the sense of community lost in other countries. It is important to reassure those who put themselves on the front line that their interests and the work they do will be given priority in terms of resources. We hope their loss will instigate a review of the type of resources they have, whether in terms of their equipment or the conditions in which they work. We should not leave any stone unturned to ensure they get the resources they need and such tragedies do not happen in the future.

Members rose.