- Uachtarán na hÉireann Michael D Higgins, Garda Commissioner Drew Harris and Minister for Justice Helen McEntee conduct wreath laying ceremony at the Garda Monument of Remembrance at Garda Headquarters.
- Over 1,800 Garda personnel who died whilst in service over 100 years commemorated by name
Today, Saturday, 16th September 2023, Uachtarán na hÉireann Michael D Higgins, Garda Commissioner Drew Harris together with the Minister for Justice Helen McEntee unveiled the refurbished Garda Monument of Remembrance at Garda Headquarters, Phoenix Park Dublin.
The re-dedication ceremony was held to mark the refurbishment of the Garda Monument of Remembrance, which now commemorates the lives and service of all Garda personnel - members of An Garda Síochána and Garda staff - who died while in service since the organisation’s foundation in 1922.
These include the names of Garda members who were murdered in the course of their duties.
It is intended that additional names will be added to An Garda Síochána’s Monument of Remembrance, on an annual basis.
During the ceremony, which was also attended by the families, colleagues and friends of the deceased, President Michael D Higgins, Garda Commissioner Drew Harris and Minister for Justice Helen McEntee laid wreaths in honour of all those who have died in service to An Garda Síochána.
The Garda Monument of Remembrance takes pride of place at the entrance to Garda Headquarters and the works were carried out as part of the An Garda Síochána centenary commemorations.
At the ceremony Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said: "This Monument of Remembrance honours all our colleagues who have died during the course of their careers with An Garda Síochána.
"Today is a day that offers us time to commemorate those loved ones and all they achieved in life – inside and outside of An Garda Síochána. Their lives meant so much to so many.
"I hope that every day as we pass this Monument that we think of those whose names are inscribed here. I also hope that it will prompt all Garda personnel to think of our own service and the crucial role we all play to keep people safe”.
The original Monument of Remembrance was unveiled on the 21st of October 1966 at Garda Headquarters by Minister for Justice, Brian Lenihan, T.D. and Garda Commissioner W. P. Quinn.
The refurbishment included essential maintenance works on the vertical mast. A ramp was installed, the podium rebuilt and existing granite stones were re-laid.
In addition, soft landscaping was introduced and bench seating, external lighting and a new water feature were added.
The names of Garda personnel, who died in service, were inscribed on bronze plating around the existing water feature and the existing stone cenotaph was updated with names of Garda members who were murdered in the course of duty.
An Garda Síochána’s Monument of Remembrance is now a calm, dignified place, suitable for reflection and commemoration, but also visible from the public road, outside the perimeter railings of Garda HQ.
