Tributes are being paid to Garda Tony Golden – who was shot dead as he responded to a domestic disturbance in Co Louth.
It happened at a house in Omeath – where a woman was also seriously wounded before the gunman turned the weapon on himself.
Locals say they’re ‘sleepless’ with shock – and now feel less safe in their community.
Here, books of condolence have opened at Ennis Garda Station and Clare County Council Office in memory of Tony Golden while his death has also been discussed at this morning's Clare Joint Policing Committee meeting in Shannon.
The meeting was adjourned for fifteen minutes as a mark of respect to Garda Tony Golden who lost his life after being shot at a house in Omeath, Co. Louth last night.
Chief Superintendent John Kerin began by extending his condolences to the family of Garda Golden and to all all affedted by his death.
He sais it has been a dreadful weekend that’s reflective of of the everyday work carried out by Gardai.
Members of the force are called to thousands of domestic incidents, of which the meeting heard there were 302 in Clare in the past nine months.
Chief Supintendent Kerin said people don’t get to see what faces members on a daily basis and while they meet with locals on good occasions such as GAA matches, invariably they meet people at their worst.
In reference to the 302 domestic abuse call-outs this year thehead of the clare garda division said that procedures are in place that see members calling back to homes of people who reported such incidents within a month, which Chief Superintendent John Kerin hoped would will prevent a similar incident happening here in Clare.