Tribute to a hero - Family and society’s loss

An Taoiseach Enda Kenny, Minister for Justice Alan Shatter and Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan had led in paying tributes to Garda Ciaran Jones, 25, who was drowned on Monday evening while alerting motorists to dangerous flooding at Ballysmuttan Bridge, near Manor Kilbride, Co Wicklow.

But no tributes can reflect adequately the public debt owed to this brave and dutiful young man who was cut down in his prime.

Our condolences go to his family. Their loss is society’s loss too.