Thousands of mourners to attend funeral of Garda Kevin Flatley in Balbriggan
Images of Garda Kevin Flatley's funeral cortege show the large numbers in attendance to pay their respects to the Dublin garda.
10 minutes ago
Symbols representing Garda Flatley's life were brought to the altar.
A fiddle was brought forward by Aisling Gibbons, an O'Dwyer's GAA Club executive member.
An O'Dwyer's Club jersey was also brought up along with a coaches club top. They were brought forward by Liam Howley.
Garda Flatley was an avid member of the club and a coach. His hurley was also brought up to the altar.
A friend of Garda Flatley, Keith, brought forward a chocolate bar, representing "something sweet", Fr McNamara told those present.
Books and the family bible, of which Mr Flatley used to read to his two daughters, Erin and Aoife, were brought to the altar.
11 minutes ago
16 minutes ago
Fr John McNamara, parish priest in Balbriggan, welcomed President Michael D Higgins, Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tánaiste Simon Harris and other members of Cabinet present.
Commissioner Drew Harris was also welcomed and all the family of AGS and different branches "who Kevin was such a proud member for so many years".
Members of the Defences Forces and the PSNI present were also welcomed.
At a local level, work colleagues of Mr Flatley's wife Úna, his parents, Michael and Breda, and his two children and their schoolmates were welcomed.
18 minutes ago
Garda motorcycle colleagues from the Dublin Metropolitan Region's roads policing unit formed a guard of honour as the hearse carrying Garda Kevin Flatley's coffin arrived at St Peter and Paul's Church in Balbriggan, Co Dublin.
Two members of the Garda led the cortege, one carrying the Irish national flag and the other the flag of An Garda Siochana.
The bells of the church rang as the coffin arrived.
A large number of uniformed gardaí walked to the church with fellow mourners, including Garda commissioner Drew Harris.
Inside the church as the service began, members of a ceremonial unit of the Garda placed the Irish flag on Garda Flatley's coffin, along with his cap and gloves.
25 minutes ago
The ceremonial unit of An Garda Síochána has stepped forward to dress Garda Kevin Flatley's coffin with the tricolour, cap and gloves.
26 minutes ago
Thousands of Gardaí are believed to be in attendance as mourners line the streets of Balbriggan
30 minutes ago
Garda Kevin Flatley's coffin has been carried by members of An Garda Síochána to the front of the altar of S.S. Peter and Paul's Church, Balbriggan, for his funeral Mass.
Garda Commissioner Drew Harris has been expressing his condolences to Mr Flatley's family members at the front of the church.
39 minutes ago
President of Ireland, Michael D Higgins, has arrived at St Peter and Paul's Church in Balbriggan, Co Dublin, for the funeral of Kevin Flatley.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Tánaiste Simon Harris and Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald, have also arrived for the mass.
PA
49 minutes ago
Speaking this morning, Garda Superintendent Liam Geraghty said there will likely be thousands of gardaí in attendance at his funeral in Balbriggan this afternoon, where they will perform a guard of honour "as he takes his final journey".
"Since Kevin passed away last Sunday and was killed in the performance of his duties, a member of An Garda Síochána has stayed in his presence for the entirety since he passed away," he said.
Speaking to RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Supt Geraghty said: "This morning, the Garda Commissioner will lead probably thousands of his colleagues to mark our respects and we're very, very grateful to Kevin's family for allowing us to take part in what is a family funeral and a very, very sad day for the family, but to allow us to show our respect and gratitude, and to honour Kevin as he takes his final journey."
Gda Flatley will be taken by hearse to St Peter's and Paul's Church in Balbriggan, where a guard of honour will take place.
"We will march with our colleague and bring him to the church for his funeral ceremony.
"We anticipate that there will be possibly up to thousands of gardaí in uniform, plainclothes gardaí and garda staff lining that route."
He will also be honoured by his local GAA club, where his daughters played and where he was a coach, and by the local schools.
59 minutes ago
The funeral of Garda Kevin Flatley will soon begin in Balbriggan, Co Dublin.
The 49-year-old father of two, who died after being struck by a motorcyclist while carrying out a speed checkpoint in Dublin last weekend, served as a garda for 26 years and had been with the Roads Policing Unit since 2018.
A large turnout of mourners is expected at his funeral service later.
The Taoiseach Micheál Martin, President Michael D Higgins, Minister for Justice, Jim O'Callaghan and Garda Commissioner Drew Harris are all expected to be in attendance.
The funeral cortege is set to pass through the Co Dublin town of Balbriggan before mass at St Peter and Paul's Church this afternoon.
Garda Flatley will later be laid to rest privately in Newcastle, Co Dublin.
He is the 90th member of An Garda Síochána to be killed while on duty.
Today 06:35 AM
Colleagues of Garda Kevin Flatley paid tribute with a constant vigil this week
Funeral to take place today for Garda Kevin Flatley who was killed while on duty
Garda Flatley died last weekend after being struck by a motorcyclist
Funeral to take place for Garda Kevin Flatley after colleagues paid tribute with constant vigil this week
A member of An Garda Síochána has remained with the body of Garda Kevin Flatley, whose funeral will take place later today, since his death last Sunday.
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