Garda’s family truly humbled by public’s support
Colm Donohoe yesterday described how the thoughts and prayers conveyed by individuals from around the country had carried his family over the past week since their brother’s tragic death.
In a eulogy at the end of yesterday’s requiem Mass, Colm, who is also a garda stationed in Swords, noted how Adrian had died “doing the job he was born to do and the job he loved doing”.
He choked back tears at regular intervals as his tribute chartered the life of a man with a deep love of his family, work and community.
Colm recalled how growing up on the family farm in Kilnaleck, Co Cavan, his brother was known as a man who was big in both stature and heart.
The congregation heard how their parents, Peggy and Hugh, had loved Adrian’s regular visits to help out with work on the farm.
Colm described how Adrian was a big kid who treated all his nieces and nephews like they were his own children. He smiled as he recounted how Adrian’s nephew and godson, Killian, had remarked that he had lost the funniest man he knew.
He was also an inspiration for his own siblings. Colm recounted how he was such a role model for their younger brother, Martin that he took “Adrian” as his name for Confirmation.
Despite his prowess as a GAA player who represented Cavan at minor and under-21 level, Colm noted that his brother was a very humble man who once observed that he had played alright in a game when he had in fact been named man of the match.
Although he had found it difficult to be wrenched from his native club Crosserlough in Co Cavan, Adrian had found a wonderful new GAA home with St Patrick’s in Lordship, Co Louth, where he also lived.
His voice cracking, Colm observed how their family had been devastated by Adrian’s “senseless and tragic loss” and the idea of missing his children — Amy and Niall — growing up.
He also paid tribute to Adrian’s wife, Caroline, for making him “the happiest and proudest husband and dad”.
The large attendance burst into a sustained round of applause as he concluded by saying that Adrian had lived his short life to the fullest.
Earlier, at the start of the Mass, symbols representing Adrian’s passion and interests were brought as gifts to the altar by members of his family.
They included a football carried by his son, Niall, 6, with which they played together.
Adrian’s daughter, Amy, 7, brought up a TV remote control which she had always hid from him, and the mobile phone on which she always rang him to say “goodnight” when he was working night duty.
Introducing the various offerings, Adrian’s brother-in-law, Derek de Loughrey smiled as he explained that a tie and pair of cuff links symbolised his touch of class and snappy dress sense. Other gifts included the No 9 jersey he wore while playing for St Patrick’s when they won the Louth senior football championship in 2001 as well as Crosserlough and Cavan jerseys, a model tractor, his Garda cap and ID badge, and a family photo.
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