THERE WAS outrage yesterday after someone removed a plaque erected to a garda who was killed in the line of duty, then left it outside the house of the late Garda Gary McLoughlin’s grieving girlfriend.
Garda McLoughlin (24) died when he was struck by a car in Burt, Co Donegal, on December 14th, 2009.
Martin McDermott, who had more than 80 convictions when he killed Garda McLoughlin, was sentenced to seven years for his manslaughter. McDermott was in the news again recently after escaping custody and being rearrested in Northern Ireland
The plaque was erected at the scene of Garda McLoughlin’s death at Lisfannon, Burt, by his family last year. It reads: “For some moments in life there are no words.”
Gardaí believe that on Monday night or early Tuesday morning last, the plaque was smashed into pieces.
One of the pieces was then taken more than 25km away to the home of Garda McLoughlin’s girlfriend, Shauna Bradley, outside Buncrana.
The vandals left the piece of the plaque on the bonnet of a disused car belonging to a family member and also sprayed RIP on the piece of the plaque.
Garda Supt Kevin English said he and all members of the Garda Síochána had been “sickened and disgusted” by the mindless attack.
“I have no words to adequately describe what happened – it was sick, vile and sinister in the extreme and it has caused untold hurt to the family of Gary, the community and all his colleagues,” he said.
“It is a depraved act carried out by people who have no respect for anyone, and it is a direct attack on Gary, his family and An Garda Síochána.”
Supt English said he had been in contact with Garda McLoughlin’s family.
He said they were devastated and could not understand why someone had done this to the memory of their youngest son.
Earlier this month, the McLoughlin family travelled from their native Fenagh, Co Leitrim, to receive a posthumous honour from Donegal County Council in memory of Garda McLoughlin.
Supt English added: “These people not only removed the plaque but also sprayed graffiti on it. I don’t know how anyone can stoop so low.
“I don’t known how much more this family can take. They have endured the loss of their son, a criminal trial and then the escape of Martin McDermott. All they ask is time to grieve for their unnecessary loss.
“There are no words to describe it. I have never experienced such an act. They now find themselves plunged into further grief,” Supt English said.
“They are deeply, deeply hurt and are totally confused at why someone would want to inflict such pain on them.”
The Garda superintendent said everything would be done to track down the people responsible.
“I have no doubt in my mind that the majority of people in Buncrana and Donegal will be repulsed by this.
“They have been very supportive to the McLoughlin family and no effort will be spared by us to bring the perpetrators who done this to justice.
“I would ask people to come forward and I am confident that whoever did this is from the local community.”
They knew what additional hurt and pain they were going to cause by doing this, he said.