THE FAMILY of a garda who died when he was hit by a car, yesterday returned to the county where he lost his life to receive a posthumous honour in his memory.
Garda Gary McLoughlin (24) was struck by a car being driven by Martin McDermott at Burt, Co Donegal, on December 14th, 2009.
McDermott, who escaped from Loughan House open prison in Cavan in February and was later arrested in Derry, had been jailed for seven years for Garda McLoughlin’s manslaughter.
Garda McLoughlin’s family, including his parents, Noel and Una and his brother Enda, travelled from their native Fenagh in Co Leitrim to receive the honour while his sister Treacy sent her apologies.
Garda McLoughlin’s girlfriend, Shauna Bradley, who he had met while stationed in Buncrana, also attended.
Accepting the accolade on behalf of his younger brother, Enda McLoughlin said: “I am honoured to receive this honour – it assures us all that Gary will never be forgotten. It means a great deal to us. We were always proud of Gary and we are even prouder today,” he said.
His brother, he said, enjoyed all the things in life that young men do. “He loved music and new computer games and football and his favourite team Arsenal. Football and soccer loomed large in Gary’s life and cars and motorbikes loomed even larger.
“He purchased a motorbike in Cork which he proudly used to leave in his kitchen. His housemates had the last laugh when they turned it into a clothes horse,” said Enda.
He said the people of Donegal were an enormous joy to his late brother and were now a huge support to the McLoughlin family.
“Over the past 2½ years the people of Donegal have given us enormous courage to deal with the huge void this has left in our lives. This is a day of celebration but it is tinged with sadness that Gary is not here to enjoy the occasion with us all today,” he said.
Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan said the support of families was important: “Their love and understanding help us to do our job protecting our community. Unfortunately Garda families must also carry a burden of worry, as loved ones face a risk of danger in their daily lives.
“That burden of worry becomes a burden of loss when members lose their lives. We all feel the loss in our own way.”
The McLoughlin family was presented with a commissioned silver replica of the Donegal county badge by local goldsmith Geraldine Hannigan.
The presentation was made by Mayor of Donegal Cllr Noel McBride, who said: “We have bestowed this honour on Gary so that his family know that the good people of Donegal cherished the work he did here and we continue to support his family and colleagues.”