A state funeral has been held for Irish police officer Tony Golden, who was murdered by republican dissident Adrian Crevan Mackin. Mackin, who was out on bail facing paramilitary offences, shot Golden dead at a house near Omeath, County Louth, on Sunday evening before turning the gun on himself.
Flags on state buildings across the republic flew at half-mast, and both houses of the Irish parliament were closed for the day as a mark of respect. The funeral mass at St Oliver Plunkett church was attended by President Michael D Higgins and Taoiseach Enda Kenny.
Father Padraig Keenan condemned the culture of violence that led to Golden's murder, saying: 'Murder is evil, murder has no place in our society. Murder must stop. All forms of violence must stop.' He noted that Golden was the 88th member of An Garda Síochána to die protecting the country, and highlighted the impact of the Troubles on north Louth, referencing the murder of detective Garda Adrian O'Donohoe three years ago.
Golden was unarmed when he responded to a 999 call about fears for the safety of Siobhan Phillips, Mackin's estranged partner, who was seriously wounded in the attack. Phillips remains in a critical condition in hospital. Mackin, a 24-year-old from Northern Ireland, had a history of domestic violence and a fascination with guns, and was suspected of reactivating deactivated firearms imported from the US for sale to dissidents and criminals.
