GAA club leads tributes to Garda Kevin Flatley following tragic death
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info
A GAA club has paid a heartwarming tribute to the Garda who was struck and killed by a motorcycle over the weekend.
Father of two Garda Kevin Flatley, 49, died when a motorcyclist drove into him at the old Swords to Balbriggan Road, in the Lanestown area of Lusk, at around 12.50pm on Sunday afternoon. Garda Flatley, who was a roads policing officer based out of Dublin Castle and had served 26 years on the force, was operating a speed checkpoint on the road and had attempted to flag down the bike when the incident occurred.
Gardaí and emergency services rushed to the scene of the incident, but despite their best efforts, Garda Flatley was sadly pronounced dead on Sunday afternoon. Meanwhile, the motorcyclist, who is in his 30s, came off the bike and was critically injured in the incident. He is currently fighting for his life in Dublin's Beaumont Hospital.
Following Garda Flatley's tragic passing, O'Dwyers GAA in Balbriggan, Dublin paid him a heartwarming tribute. Aidan Smith, the Public Relations Officer for O'Dwyers, praised Kevin as a dedicated member of the club, sharing that he would be "sadly missed".
He said in a video: "On behalf of the club and my own personal behalf, I wish to extend the condolences to Kevin's wife Una, his two daughters Erin and Aoife on his sudden and tragic passing. Kevin was a dedicated member of the club, and will be sadly missed. I wish to also extend our condolences to the Garda family, particularly the Garda Traffic Unit, and the local community. May Kevin rest in peace."
Taoiseach Micheál Martin also said that the public should be "very, very conscious of the sacrifice, the risks that are taken every day by members of An Garda Síochána". Speaking to Newstalk, Mr Martin said that people had been "numbed and shocked" by Garda Kevin Flatley's death as he sympathised with his wife Una and his daughters Aoife and Erin.
He accepted that both road safety and the safety of Gardaí while working will need to be assessed. The Taoiseach said: "It reminds us that An Garda Síochána are always in danger, that the very nature of their work is such that it puts them in harm's way when one, perhaps, least expects it.
"I think we should always be very, very conscious of that, of the sacrifices [and] the risks that are taken every day by members of An Garda Síochána. The [Garda] Commissioner is correct in saying that there will have to be a reset or a complete relook at this.
"We have an obligation to protect members of An Garda Síochána as they carry out their duties, to do everything we possibly can to ensure a safe environment. Technology will become more and more relevant here and its application is increasing all of the time.
"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 that is of little consolation right now to the family of Kevin Flatley.
"I think society as a whole do have to look at road safety and, more generally, reflect on what has happened. Two very serious incidents this week, another last week. A Garda was injured by a car.
"Generally in terms of road safety, all of us as a society need to reflect on the fundamentals in terms of keeping people safe on the roads, in terms of speed, in terms of drink driving, in terms of wearing of safety belts, reducing speed limits.
"Very often, there could be opposition to that and so on. But I think it's desperately upsetting and sad for everybody that Kevin Flatley has lost his life in this way.
"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."
Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice .
For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Man arrested on suspicion of murder of Annie McCarrick
Gardaí investigating the disappearance and murder of 26-year-old American woman Annie McCarrick in March 1993 have confirmed that they have arrested man on suspicion of her murder. The man, who is in his 60s, was arrested by detectives from Irishtown on Thursday morning and is being detained at a Garda station in Dublin. Gardai have also confirmed that they are launching a new search operation at a property in Clondalkin, Dublin 22. Gardai have said that the current residents of this home are not connected in any way with Annie or her disappearance. Originally from New York, Annie settled in Sandymount, Dublin 4, in January 1993, and worked as a waitress at the Courtyard Restaurant in Donnybrook and Café Java on Leeson Street. Annie's time in Ireland was abruptly halted on March 26, 1993, when, at 26 years of age, she vanished without a trace, leaving her family and friends devastated. On 23 March 2023, three days before the 30th anniversary of Ms McCarrick's disappearance, Gardaí stated they had upgraded the investigation to a murder inquiry. Annie Bridget McCarrick is an only child from Long Island, New York, who was born to parents John and Nancy McCarrick. She went missing under suspicious circumstances in 1993, while she was living in Ireland. She was a vibrant, young woman who was popular and had a number of friends in this country. There has been no sign of her since her disappearance. A Garda spokesperon said in a statement issued on Thursday morning: "Gardaí investigating the disappearance and murder of Annie McCarrick in March 1993 have this morning arrested a male on suspicion of her murder. "The male aged in his 60' is detained under the provisions of Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at a Garda Station in Dublin. "Investigating Gardaí are today commencing a search operation at a residence in Clondalkin, Dublin 22. "Elements of that house and garden will be searched and subject of both technical and forensic examinations. "The current residents of this home are not connected in anyway with Annie McCarrick or her disappearance. "The arrest and search operation is being led by an investigation team from the DMR South Central Division, Serious Crime Unit based at Irishtown Garda Station under the direction of a Senior Investigating Officer and with the assistance of the Serious Crime Review Team, Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation. "The search is being carried out by the DMR South Central divisional search team supported by the Garda National Technical Bureau. "This search operation has the support of other state and external expertise if required. "An Garda Síochána has and will continue to keep the family of Annie McCarrick fully updated in relation to this investigation. They have been fully appraised of today's developments. "An Garda Síochána appeal to anyone with information, no matter how small or insignificant that they might believe it to be, to contact with the investigation team. "Gardaí also appeal to anyone that may have previously come forward but who felt that they could not provide Gardaí with all of the relevant information they had in relation to this matter, to please make contact with An Garda Síochána again. "With the passage of time they may now be in a position to speak further with the investigation team. "Any information will be welcomed by the investigation team, and will be treated in the strictest confidence. "The investigation team can be contacted at Irishtown Garda Station on 01 666 9600 or anyone who wishes to provide information confidentially should contact the Garda Confidential Line: 1800 666 111."
Irish Times
an hour ago
- Irish Times
Annie McCarrick murder: Man (60s) arrested and Garda search operation under way
A man has been arrested in connection with the disappearance and murder of Annie McCarrick 32 years ago. Ms McCarrick (26), a young American woman who was living in Ireland at the time, went missing on March 26th, 1993. The last reported sighting of her was at Johnnie Fox's pub in Glencullen in the foothills of the Dublin Mountains. The male aged in his 60s is being detained under the provisions of Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at a Garda station in Dublin. He can be questioned for up to 24 hours. He is the first person to be arrested in relation to the murder of Ms McCarrick. READ MORE Gardaí are also commencing a search operation at a residence in Clondalkin, Co Dublin. Elements of that house and garden will be searched and subject of technical and forensic examinations. The current residents of this home are not connected in any way with Ms McCarrick or her disappearance. The arrest and search operation is being led by an investigation team from the Dublin Metropolitan Region and the serious crime unit based at Irishtown Garda station under the direction of a senior investigating officer. More to follow.
Irish Examiner
an hour ago
- Irish Examiner
Man arrested in connection with disappearance and murder of Annie McCarrick
A man has been arrested in connection with the disappearance and murder of Annie McCarrick, who was last seen 32 years ago. The 26-year-old woman, originally from New York, went missing on March 26, 1993. At the time, she was living in rented accommodation at St. Catherine's Court, Sandymount, Dublin 4. On Thursday morning, gardaí confirmed they had arrested and detained a man in his 60s as part of the investigation. He is currently being held under the provisions of Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at a Garda station in Dublin. A search operation has also commenced at a residence in Clondalkin. A Garda spokesperson stated that "the current residents of this home are not connected in any way with Annie McCarrick or her disappearance." Both the house and the garden will undergo technical and forensic examinations. "The arrest and search operation is being led by an investigation team from the DMR South Central Division, Serious Crime Unit based at Irishtown Garda Station under the direction of a Senior Investigating Officer and with the assistance of the Serious Crime Review Team, Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation," the spokesperson said. "The search is being carried out by the DMR South Central divisional search team, supported by the Garda National Technical Bureau. "This search operation has the support of other state and external expertise if required," the spokesperson added. Gardaí said they have kept and will continue to keep, Annie McCarrick's family fully informed of all developments. "They have been fully appraised of today's developments," the spokesperson said. Gardaí are appealing to anyone with information—no matter how small or seemingly insignificant—to contact the investigation team. They are also reaching out to individuals who may have come forward previously but felt unable to share all relevant details. "With the passage of time they may now be in a position to speak further with the investigation team," the spokesperson said. "Any information will be welcomed by the investigation team, and will be treated in the strictest confidence. "The investigation team can be contacted at Irishtown Garda Station on 01 666 9600, or anyone who wishes to provide information confidentially should contact the Garda Confidential Line: 1800 666 111," the spokesperson added.
