Crowds bid sad farewell Garda sergeant laid to rest

THERE WAS a large crowd in Greystones, Co Wicklow, yesterday morning for the funeral Mass of Garda Sgt Feargal McHugh, who died after his car hit a crash barrier on the N11 last Monday.

A capacity crowd, including more than 100 uniformed members of the force led by Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan, filled the town’s Holy Rosary Church for Requiem Mass. Groups in the church grounds heard proceedings broadcast via loudspeakers while a video link relayed the service to a packed hall nearby.

A Tricolour was draped over Mr McHugh’s coffin before the altar. On it sat a framed picture of a smiling Mr McHugh, his Garda hat and gloves.

Mr McHugh’s wife Ann and children Emma, Eoin, Lisa, Stephen and Claire heard local priest Fr Liam Belton welcome the Garda Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner Nacie Rice, assistant commissioners along with Wicklow Chief Supt Thomas Conway, clergy from Arklow, Carlow IT, the Garda chaplain Fr Joe Kennedy, and people from neighbouring parishes and other faiths. He also welcomed Brian Purcell of the Department of Justice, representing the Government.

Fr Belton said there was “no preparation for the vacuum which is created when sudden death happens”. It was a difficult morning for the family including Mr McHughs brothers Eugene and Thomas and his mother Kay. Fr Belton said said when Mr McHugh went to work over St Patricks weekend, his family expected him home at the usual time. “They did not expect the gardaí to arrive with a message saying an accident happened on the N11 . . . ”

Quoting a parable he said death comes “as a thief in the night”, but the Christian message brings hope, even as the family was too numb to yet take comfort from words.