A state funeral has taken place for the garda who died after being crushed against a wall by a stolen car.
Garda Robert McCallion was left fighting for life when he was mown down by suspected car thieves in Co Donegal.
Thousands gathered to attend his Easter Monday funeral mass at the Church of Our Lady Help of Christians in Swinford, Co Mayo at 1pm. He was buried afterwards at Kilconduff Cemetery.
For almost two weeks family, friends and colleagues kept a vigil by the garda’s hospital bedside until he died last Tuesday.
Two teenagers have been charged in relation to the 29-year-old’s death.
On Thursday Garda McCallion made his final journey home as his body was escorted by colleagues to his native Swinford.
His remains were brought from his family home on Park Road to the local church yesterday evening.
Garda McCallion is survived by his father Bob, mother Nancy, brother John, sisters Noreen and Deirdre, and girlfriend Marie O’Donnell.
His family have a long history of serving in An Garda Siochána.
Robert’s father is a retired garda and his brother serves in Ballina, Co Mayo and two of his uncles were retired superintendents.
The family was also steeped in the GAA with Robert, a talented Gaelic footballer, playing for Swinford and Mayo county in the past.
Garda McCallion was struck by a vehicle when he responded to calls in a housing estate in Letterkenny, Co Donegal on March 26th.
PA