State funeral held for Garda Colm Horkan
Mourners at the funeral of a murdered Irish police officer have heard he was one of nature's gentlemen, who never let anyone walk alone.
A state funeral for Detective Garda Colm Horkan has been held at St James' Church in his hometown of Charlestown, Co Mayo, on Sunday.
The 49-year-old was shot dead on Wednesday night while on patrol in the town of Castlerea in Co Roscommon.
A minutes' silence was observed by Garda colleagues across the Republic at noon as the funeral service got underway.
Officers lined the streets as Mr Horkan's coffin, draped in the Irish flag with his cap and gloves laid on top, was carried through Charlestown.
Among symbols left at the altar to represent his life at the beginning of the funeral service were his garda notebook, a GAA jersey from his home team in Charlestown and a Liverpool FC tie pin.
His brother Dermot explained the significance of each.
With his voice breaking with emotion, he told the congregation: "The Liverpool motto 'you'll never walk alone' summed up Colm perfectly - he never let any of his family or friends walk alone."
In his homily, Monsignor Tommy Johnston described the garda as one of nature's gentlemen.
"The gunshots that rang out in the early hours of Wednesday morning echoed not just in the town of Castlerea but right across the country, spreading a story of tragedy and sadness and the loss of life of a detective garda," he said.
"Colm Horkan was a good man, one of nature's gentlemen. That and more, as someone said."
President Michael D Higgins led a memorial service on the grounds of his residence at Aras an Uachtarain in Dublin, while Taoiseach Leo Varadkar paid his respects at Garda headquarters in Dublin.
An Garda Síochána planned the funeral to ensure Mr Horkan was afforded formal state honours within the current coronavirus regulations on public gatherings.
A 43-year-old man was remanded in custody on Friday charged with Mr Horkan's murder.
On Friday, hundreds of people gathered in Mayo and Roscommon to pay their respects to Mr Horkan.
There were emotional scenes in Ballaghaderreen in Roscommon as the hearse carrying the remains of Mr Horkan made its way through the town towards his home in Charlestown.
The cortege was flanked by gardai on motorcycles, while people lined the streets where Mr Horkan had worked for several years.
Floral tributes were left outside Ballaghaderreen Garda station.
There were similar scenes late on Friday night in Charlestown as hundreds of people lined the streets as the hearse passed by.