A Co Tipperary village yesterday mourned one of its sons at the State funeral of a young garda killed in a road accident in Wexford.
Garda Ambrose Fogarty (27) single, a member of an established family in Terryglass, died with Garda Richard Nolan (42) when their patrol car crashed in Enniscorthy as they went to the aid of colleagues.
Garda Nolan was buried on Tuesday at Ballon cemetery, 10 miles from Enniscorthy. He leaves his wife, Deirdre, and three children, Aisling, Grainne and James.
Several hundred mourners attended yesterday's funeral Mass for Garda Fogarty, at which the local parish priest, Father Tom Seymour, was chief celebrant. He is survived by his father Michael, mother Joan, brother Dan and sister Olive and relatives.
Two cousins, Father Michael O'Donoghue, Coolderry, Birr, Co Offaly, and Father Frank Leahy, CSSP, Blackrock, Co Dublin, were among the concelebrants at the Mass in the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Terryglass. The Mass was relayed by loudspeaker to the overflow congregation.
A large force of gardai, led by the Commissioner, Mr Pat Byrne, were present, and the President, Mrs McAleese, was represented by her aide-de-camp, Cmdt Dermot Kiernan. Members of the Defence Forces, headed by Brig Gen Dave Taylor, were also in attendance.
The coffin was borne from the church by Garda pallbearers, flanked by a guard of honour of gardai. The Garda band, under Insp Billy Byrne, played the salute at the Mass and played a funeral march as the coffin, draped in the Tricolour and bearing Garda Fogarty's cap, was carried from the church.
The Last Post and Reveille were played at the graveside in the adjoining cemetery. Father Seymour described the young garda as one imbued with resolute determination to use his gifts and talents for the service of others.