Funeral details announced for garda Kevin Flatley killed on duty

Irish Independent

13-05-2025

The 49-year-old father of two was working overtime to help his colleagues when he was hit as he recorded vehicles' speeds on the side of the road on the R132 at Lanestown on Sunday afternoon.
The funeral mass for Gda Flatley, who had served as a garda for 26 years and had been with the Roads Policing Unit since 2018, will be held on Friday afternoon in Balbriggan.
He is remembered in his funeral notice as a "dedicated member of An Garda Síochána" as well as an "avid member and coach" of O'Dwyers GAA club.
Gda Flatley, who is predeceased by his sister Elaine, is described as the "beloved husband of Úna and loving father of Erin and Aoife".
"Very sadly missed by his adoring wife and daughters, parents Michael and Breda, brother John, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, extended family, friends and neighbours."
He will lie in repose at McNally's Funeral Home in Balbriggan on Thursday, May 15 from 4pm until 7pm, before his removal on Friday afternoon to SS Peter and Paul's Church.
His funeral mass will take place at 1.30pm on Friday afternoon, followed by burial in Newcastle Cemetery.
His family have requested family flowers only with donations in lieu to Little Blue Heroes, a charity founded by members of the gardaí to support families of children with serious illnesses.
Many have paid tribute to Gda Flatley in the aftermath of the incident, including President Michael D Higgins, who said Gda Flatley "dedicated his career to public service and to keeping people safe".
"The loss of a garda has a deep impact on society due to this strong connection and my thoughts are with his family and all those who knew and cared for Gda Flately across his life," he said.
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Tánaiste Simon Harris said Gda Flatley was 'a long-serving and much-respected member' of the force who was 'devoted' to his job, while Garda Representative Association president Mark O'Meara said all at the organisation were 'numbed by the sudden and devastating loss of a colleague, friend and member of the garda family'.
In the aftermath of Gda Flatley's death, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said there is a need to ensure gardaí can carry out their duties in as safe an environment as possible.
'I think the Garda Commissioner is correct in saying that there will have to be a reset or a complete re-look at this. We have an obligation to protect the members of An Garda Síochána as they carry out their duties, to do everything that we possibly can to ensure a safe environment,' he told The Pat Kenny Show on Newstalk.
"Technology will become more and more relevant here and it's application is increasing all of the time, and no doubt the Minister for Justice, Jim O'Callaghan, and the Garda Commissioner and members of the force will examine and evaluate all of that but, of course, we have to remember that is of little consolation right now to the family of Kevin Flatley."
He said Irish society "as a whole" needs to reflect on the incident, on road safety and "on the fundamentals in terms of keeping people safe on the roads".
Mr Martin said it is "desperately upsetting and sad for everybody that Kevin Flatley has lost his life in this way", adding: "We simply have to, in the fullness of time, reflect on that and make sure that we can create as safe an environment as we possibly can for members of An Garda Síochána as they endeavour to keep us safe."