SENIOR GARDA officers, politicians and friends of Garda Robbie McCallion turned out in Dublin yesterday to pay their respects to the 29-year-old who died on Tuesday after being hit by a stolen car just over two weeks ago while on duty.
Garda McCallion died at Beaumont Hospital after his life support machine was switched off.
His remains were taken to his native Swinford in Co Mayo from Corrigan’s funeral home in Dublin. Uniformed gardaí formed a guard of honour as the hearse left the city centre followed by four funeral cars carrying family members. Six Garda motorcyclists escorted the cortege. Hundreds of mourners had gone to the funeral home to pay their respects to Mr McCallion’s family before his remains were taken at 3.30pm for the journey to Co Mayo.
Among those present were a large number of young gardaí who had trained and served with the dead man. Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern represented the Government and he was accompanied by lord mayor of Dublin Cllr Eibhlin Byrne.
A delegation of senior Garda officers also visited Mr McCallion’s family. This was led by the Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy and included Deputy Commissioner Martin Callinan, Deputy Commissioner Nacie Rice and Assistant Commissioner Al McHugh.
Representatives of the Garda Representative Association and the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors were in attendance. Several hundred plainclothes and uniformed gardaí and members of the public lined the streets outside the funeral home.
Mr McCallion’s remains were taken to the family home in Swinford where they were reposing from 6pm. His removal to Swinford church takes places on Sunday at 8pm. He will be buried on Monday at Kilconduff Cemetery after 1pm Mass.
Garda McCallion was on duty in Letterkenny, Co Donegal, early on March 26th when he went to investigate a suspicious car at Tara Court. When the occupants of the car saw him getting out of his vehicle and walking towards them they tried to speed off. While reversing they rammed him into a wall. He was taken to Letterkenny hospital and later transferred to Beaumont. However, he never regained consciousness and life support was switched off on Monday.
Two Donegal teenagers have already been before the courts to face charges relating to the theft of the vehicle involved in the incident at Tara Court.
The dead man’s father, Bob, and two uncles are retired Garda members. His brother, John, is serving in Ballina, Co Mayo.