Mourners told: ‘You have been our hero’

IT is a diary entry no one would ever want to write.

At the funeral yesterday of Garda Ciaran Jones, his girlfriend Claire Kennedy reduced mourners to tears as she recalled their young love which was recorded in her diaries and how her heart was broken by his tragic death.

Hundreds of people stood outside the packed St Brigid’s Church in the Co Wicklow village of Manor Kilbride for the funeral of Garda Jones, who was due to celebrate his 25th birthday this coming Thursday, but died after he was swept into the River Liffey by flood water last Monday after volunteering to help motorists.

Her voice cracking with emotion, Claire said she had got her father to take her old diaries out of the attic so she could see how she had detailed her blooming romance with Ciaran, which began when she was 14 and he a “seemingly untouchable 5th Year”.

“I have been getting texts from no one other than Ciaran Jones,” Claire had written in her diary on February 28, 2003. “I think he likes me.”

She said that when she was first speaking to Ciaran on the phone, she had a list of topics in case the conversation stalled, but she added: “We were never stuck for words.”

As for her diary entry for today, she said she would write: “I loved you then, I love you now, and I will continue to love you. You have been our hero.”

Her words sparked tears and applause, as did the homily by Fr Padraig McDermott, who praised Ciaran’s role in the community.

“He would be the one to carry your bag, he would be the one to give up his seat for you,” Fr McDermott said. “He lived by old values, by good values.”

Fr McDermott said Ciaran had been a good son to his parents and a great brother to his siblings, Michelle and Alan, as well as “the life and soul of this community”.

“When he was lost to us it was amazing to see the whole community out searching for him. They wanted to search for their hero, their friend. Yes, he was the one, he was our community guard,” Fr McDermott told the mourners, estimated at 700 people.

Television presenter Mary Kennedy, Claire’s aunt, outlined the details of the offertory gifts, which included a Kilbride GAA jersey and football, carried by Patrick Donohoe, vice-captain of the team which, four years ago yesterday, won the Junior A county championship with Ciaran as captain. A rugby ball was carried by the captain of Clondalkin Rugby Club, where Ciaran also played. A garda hat and gloves, a Wicklow jersey and a copy of the Wicklow People newspaper were also offered, as well as a stetson hat — Ciaran had quipped to his uncle: “There’s only one sheriff in this town” — and the Big Dog golf driver that was to be his birthday present.

Among those in attendance yesterday were Taoiseach Enda Kenny, Justice Minister Alan Shatter and Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan. They heard that Ciaran was an all-rounder, a hero, a legend. Martin Walsh, a GAA clubmate, said Ciaran was “an animal on the pitch” and always smiling off it, and that Ciaran’s parents John and Brenda “raised one hell of a son”.

A prayer was also offered for the other person who died as a result of Monday’s torrential rain, Filipino care assistant Celia Ferrer De Jesus. Afterwards, with the tricolour draped on his coffin, Ciaran’s body was taken outside and down the village street, accompanied by the garda band.