Mattie McGrath Condemns Murder of Detective Harkin, Urges Backup
Mattie McGrath spoke in the Dáil on 24 June 2020, condemning the murder of Detective Harkin and expressing outrage and dismay. He urged stronger support for rural police, backup for lone officers, and praised community policing units working during lockdown.
Condemnation of Detective Harkin's murder
McGrath described the killing as a shocking, untimely murder that left a small rural town in dismay. He linked the reaction to earlier deaths, referencing the sad and tragic deaths of Gareth de Morley and Gareth de Bourne and preparations to commemorate those fallen officers.
Praise for community policing units
He saluted community initiatives and dedicated units re-established in towns such as Clonmel and Caire. McGrath said these community units are the lifeblood of policing and highlighted the work they did during the COVID lockdown, helping to regain respect that had been diminished by lack of numbers and support.
Call for backup and officer safety
McGrath appealed to the minister for greater protection for officers, warning that members, especially in rural Ireland, are often out on their own. He stressed officers do not know what call will come to the station and urged that they must have backup and support for safety and effectiveness.
Condolences and local testimony
He referenced contributions from Deputy Knox, Deputy Fils Morris and Sergeant Hines about Detective Harkin's community work, including help with families affected by domestic violence during the COVID crisis. McGrath conveyed the Rural Independent Group's sympathy to the detective's family and to the local community, and he saluted the dedication of officers who keep the public safe.
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I too want to add our voice to the outrage and disquiet and dismay at the sad and untimely passing and it is the murder of detective Harkin and indeed when you looked at the box box and you saw the direction for the people in that small town and the sense of shock and dismay the sense of loss and the sense of here we go again 40 years on from the sad and tragic untimely death and murder indeed of Gareth de Morley and Gareth de Bourne and preparation has been made to commemorate those two heroic fallen comrades to think that on a sleepy quiet Tuesday night in a small rural town that's a wonderful and dedicated member of the Garethshire corner and we've heard from Deputy Knox and others that know that knew of his work in North Compton when he indeed from Deputy Fils Morris who know and the everyday and listened to the everyday stories of how he mattered of how he dealt with his community and we did indeed hear from Sergeant Hines I heard them on our tea pokers myself and it's probably a timely reminder we're discussing domestic violence this evening during the in this house during the COVID crisis and indeed how he endeavoured to help so many families inflicted with that scourge but he is some loss to his community he is a huge loss to his community and indeed to this state and it is a timely reminder and I want to salute up and down the country the Gareth de and the community initiatives that they have and the community dedicated units that have been re-established in Clonmel and indeed in Caire and all over the counties and the country and I asked this minister and the future minister may be sitting beside me I don't know who it will be I don't know who it is so much. uh units are there they are the lifeblood no police force in the world can live or can can function without the support of the public they're not like hurl like heila but it's so important that we have these community units they have done torrent work in this time of lockdown and they have regained a huge amount of respect that had some of it had been diminished because of sheer lack of numbers sheer lack of support and i also want to make an appeal uh minister that no rather officers should be on their own because they don't know what call is going to come to the station they don't know what they confront on any street around any corner or behind any door in any any any house and this is such a tragedy so they need back up and need support and all too often it is in rural uh ireland especially that members are out there on their own and that's not safe nor it's not wise and i salute every one of them for the dedicated uh work and engagement they do to keep us safe so that we can sleep in our beds so that we can uh rest and know and the knowledge that they are there to respond and do respond so i want to express the simplicity of the rural independent group to a detective uh uh indeed and to all his family and the child sound uh community and indeed and get a chicana um in total gore maca thank you very much you
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