Brian Kelleher: ‘We are shocked by this tragedy’

GARDA Brian Kelleher was proud of two things: his family and his uniform, colleagues said yesterday.

Aged 46, he leaves a wife Marie and three children — James aged 10, Finnbar aged eight and Christopher, aged six.

They all attend the local national school in Bruree.

His wife works as a nurse at the Mid Western Regional Hospital.

Mr Kelleher was born near Mallow, where family members still farm. He was on duty with colleague Garda Oliver O’Sullivan when the accident happened.

Head of the Limerick Garda Division, Chief Superintendent Willie Keane spoke of the terrible shock within the force.

“When you think of it, this was a man doing his duty at 5.40 in the morning and is killed in the line of duty. We are all shocked by this tragedy. I knew Brian for many years and worked with him when he was stationed in Limerick city. He was a decent, hard-working, uniformed member of the garda force,” he said.

He said Garda Kelleher had a great working knowledge of Croom, where he was stationed. Chief Supt Keane said: “Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife and young family.”

Garda Tony Maher, 45, a Listowel native stationed in Askeaton, had known his late colleague from the day he joined the force in 1983.

“When I first moved to Limerick I got to know Brian when we both played in the same football team,” said Garda Maher.

“Brian played at wing back and when he took the field he was never found wanting.” Garda Maher said he met Garda Kelleher on Friday night last in Rathkeale when they were working on the same unit in different patrol cars.

“Just two weeks ago we travelled to Cork on a course. On the way, between Mallow and Bottlehill, he pointed to the countryside his family still farmed.

“Although he was stationed in Croom, he lived in Bruree.

“He adored his family. That day, going to Cork, he talked so proudly about his kids. Brian was very family-oriented.”

Garda Maher said he got a call early yesterday, from Sgt Vincent McCoy to report to the station.

“Then to learn that the man I had known for nearly 25 years in the job, and through football, had been killed,” he said.

Garda Kelleher was a very highly thought-of member of the force both by his colleagues and the community he served, said Garda Maher.

“Brian was also very involved in the Garda Representative Association at local level. I will miss him and the banter we always had going about Cork and Kerry football.”