Garda shot by IRA suspect from Northern Ireland

Garda shot by IRA suspect from Northern Ireland

Garda Anthony Golden was shot dead in Co Louth by a dissident republican from Northern Ireland, whose partner had made a domestic abuse complaint about him, Gardaí have said.

Forensic examinations have been taking place at a house in the Mullach Alainn estate in Omeath, where the officer, known as Tony, was gunned down.

The married father-of-three, originally from Ballina, Co Mayo, was responding to reports of a domestic disturbance in the village in the Carlingford area, just a few miles from the border, at around 6pm on Sunday.

The gunman, who has been identified as 24-year-old Adrian Crevan Mackin, was originally from Newry, according to security sources and is believed to have taken his own life after shooting the Garda and a woman, who is in a critical condition in hospital.

She was Mackin's partner, and on Monday Garda Golden's commanding officer Superintendent Gerry Curley explained that she had called to Omeath Garda Station by prior arrangement to make a written statement of complaint over a domestic incident.

Garda Golden and the woman’s father then accompanied her to her home at Mullach Alainn in Omeath that she shared with dissident republican Mackin.

The father remained outside while Garda Golden and the woman went inside.

Shortly afterwards, gunshots were heard inside the house and the woman’s father called 999 immediately.

Emergency services responded to the scene and found Garda Golden inside with a number of fatal gunshot wounds.

Police at the scene of the shooting in Omeath on Monday.

“The female who had made the complaint was found in the house with a number of serious gunshot wounds,” Superintendent Curley said.

“She has been removed to hospital and remains in a critical condition. A firearm was recovered at the scene. A full investigation is now underway into all aspects surrounding the incident.”

Mackin – originally from Newry - was arrested by Gardaí in January over dissident republicanism and detained under Section 30 of the Offences against the State Act 1939.

He had been charged with IRA membership at the Criminal Courts of Justice, Dublin.

Garda Golden is the 88th member of the force to be killed in the line of duty.

The shooting occurred in the same region of Co Louth where Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was fatally shot in January 2013.

Supt Curley, Garda Golden's commanding officer, was clearly shaken as he paid tribute to the 36-year-old who was known for his charity work and had been in the force for 11 years.

"Garda Tony Golden was an excellent member of An Garda Siochana," he said.

"He was meticulous in the way he went about his work. He was a quiet, unassuming person who did his job in a diligent manner.

“He was a credit to An Garda Síochana and he will be a major loss to us all.”

Superintendent Gerry Curley

Previously stationed in Dublin, he moved to Dundalk in 2007 and spent the past six years posted to Omeath on the Irish border where "he carried out his duty to a very high standard", Supt Curley said.

"He was well known and well respected throughout Omeath and throughout the Dundalk area," he added.

The Omeath Garda station in Co Louth.

Parish priest Fr Christy McElwee performed the last rites on the Garda at the scene.

“He’s been here six or seven years and he was a very outgoing man, a very charitable man, he did a lot of work for charity over the years," he told UTV earlier.

“He had a wife and three children and that is very poignant, our heart goes out to his family.”

He added that the community is stunned by what has happened.

“I think it hasn’t really sunk in yet,” Fr McElwee continued.

“People are going to their work today and this has happened and it’s a shellshock to them. I’m sure people are wondering how this could happen in their own local village.”

Speaking at the press conference on Monday, Garda Commissioner Nóirin O'Sullivan said it has been a traumatic time for An Garda Síochána and she is mindful that this is the second such tragic death of Garda in this community in short period of time.

“Our thoughts are today with Tony Golden’s wife Nichola, his three young children, his parents and his wider extended family, and particularly the [Garda] members in Dundalk district, but also right across An Garda Síochána,” she stated.

“[There have been] outpourings of sympathy, support, and solidarity. Without that support, we could not continue to do our job. We could not continue to have the courage and the bravery.”

Nóirín O'Sullivan, Garda Commissioner

 “I know the members [of the Gardaí] were trying to put aside their own personal emotions and I think it’s very important to remember, in addition to the professionalism dedication and the commitment to duty, that the men and woman of

"An Garda Síochána show they are human beings when a colleague was lost in such tragic circumstances,” she said.

“They have to park that emotion, the trauma. I’m very conscious of the members that visited the scene last night [and] the assistance that they rendered to their colleague and indeed to Mr Macken and the other injured party in that case.

“[Garda Golden] was a very proud family man and the loss is unthinkable for his wife Nichola, his parents and the extended family. Certainly our heartfelt support and sympathy goes out to them.”

First Minister Peter Robinson and deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness have led the tributes to the fallen officer in Northern Ireland.

The Ministers said: “It was with great sadness we learnt of the murder of Garda Anthony Golden. We express our deepest sympathy to his wife and three children who have lost a much loved husband and father.

“Garda Golden was murdered going about his daily work protecting people and serving the entire community. Undoubtedly this is a sad and difficult time for his colleagues and friends in An Garda Síochána.

“Garda Golden’s entire family are foremost in our minds following these tragic events. We will remember them and all those impacted by this tragedy in our thoughts and prayers.

“We also wish the woman seriously injured in the shooting a full and speedy recovery after this traumatic event.”

PSNI Chief Constable George Hamilton has also expressed his sympathies.

Sinn Féin president and Louth TD Gerry Adams said at Stormont: “Tony Golden was well known to people in the Cooley peninsula, he was very active in the community alert scheme and many of our activists were involved in that.

“Caitríona Ruane, who lives in the Coolies, was under threat from dissident elements and one of the people who called to the house to help her and support her was the late Garda Golden, so our thoughts are with his family, with the wider Garda Síochana family and with the people of the Cooley peninsula.”

Justice Minister David Ford also offered his condolences to the family of murdered Garda Officer Anthony Golden.

“Events like these are a stark reminder of the vital role police officers play in seeking to keep our communities safe,” he said.

I have asked the Minister for Justice and Equality, Frances Fitzgerald, to convey my sympathy to the family of Garda Golden.”

© UTV

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Comments (11)

Newest Major Tom in Mars wrote (7 days ago):

Sad day when this officer died protecting the community. Thoughts are with his family. Support your police officers. RIP Garda

Darren Coney in coalisland. wrote (9 days ago):

I am so sorry to hear about the loss of a police man that lost his life while out doing his job. God bless his family and the police force that he worked for. God bless the woman that was involved as well. hope she gets better soon. you are not safe anywhere in this life. my thoughts and prayers are with the families of the ones that passed away.

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