Extra 25 gardaí being sent to Dundalk Garda station

An additional 25 gardaí have been sent to Dundalk Garda station to support frontline policing and uniform patrols, it has been confirmed.

A Garda spokesman confirmed Garda Commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan had directed the additional staff be sent to Dundalk.

“In addition, a targeted intelligence-led investigation has been established into serious crime in the area which includes resources attached to the National Units,” the spokesman added.

Domestic abuse callout

The news comes in the wake of the murder of Garda Tony Golden, who was shot dead during a domestic abuse callout to a house near Omeath village in Louth a week ago.

Garda Golden, a father of three young children under the age of eight, was shot dead after he brought Siobhán Phillips (22) to her home in the Mullach Álainn estate near Omeath.

She had sought to collect personal items as she was fleeing her partner, who had been beating her. She had gone there with her father Sean and Garda Golden.

Garda Golden instructed Mr Phillips to remain outside the house while he escorted her inside.

However, when she went into the house with Garda Golden, Adrian Crevan Mackin - her partner and the father of her two young children - shot her in the head and body with a Glock 9mm handgun.

He then shot and killed Garda Golden as he surged towards Ms Phillips to protect her. Mackin then turned the gun on himself.

Book defaced

It emerged over the weekend that a book of condolences opened for Garda Golden at Drogheda Garda station had been defaced.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny said he was "dismayed" at the news.

It is understood the incident happened in Drogheda Garda station on Tuesday and led officers to remove the book from the station’s public area.

Speaking as he arrived at the Burlington Hotel for the annual Fine Gael presidential fundraiser dinner on Saturday night, Mr Kenny said: "I am dismayed by what I heard on the news bulletins of the desecration of the book of condolences in respect of Garda Golden."

Thousands of people, including around 4,000 gardaí, attended Garda Golden’s funeral on Thursday.

Few mourners appeared for the cremation of Mackin’s remains in Belfast on Friday.

His former partner remains in a critical condition at Dublin’s Beaumont Hospital.