Byrne defends not attending funerals

Garda Commissioner Pat Byrne is defending his decision not to return from a family holiday for the funerals of two Gardai last week.

He says the incident is history as far as he is concerned and families should be given time to get on with the grieving process.

He said: "You make decisions and you stick with them and then you go on from there. I made the decision to stay with my family, now let other people decide if it was the wrong or right decision.

"I think at this stage the focus should be on the tragedy not on whether the Garda Commissioner attended it or not, that is a separate issue.

He concluded: "As far as I am concerned I made that decision to stay with my family, let other people decide if it is right or wrong."