A garda officer has died after being struck by a speeding motorcyclist while conducting a routine traffic checkpoint in north County Dublin.
Garda Kevin Flatley, aged 49, was fatally injured on the R132 road at Lissenhall, near Swords, at around 1 pm while using a speed detection gun.
He had attempted to flag down a high-powered Yamaha R1 1000cc motorcycle after recording it travelling at high speed. The motorcyclist failed to stop and struck Gda Flatley, who died at the scene.
Garda Flatley, a dedicated member of the Roads Policing Unit, is survived by his two young daughters. His death marks the 90th time a member of An Garda Síochána has been killed in the line of duty.
Gardaí are now seeking the public’s assistance in tracing the movements of the motorcycle involved between noon and the time of the incident.
Witnesses or anyone with information are urged to contact Swords Garda Station at 01 666 4700, the Garda Confidential Line at 1800 666 111, or any garda station.
In tribute, flags at Garda Headquarters in Phoenix Park and the national Garda memorial are flying at half-mast.
Garda Commissioner Drew Harris expressed his condolences, saying, “Kevin, 49 years of age, had over 26 years of dedicated service to An Garda Síochána and the people of Ireland. My thoughts, and the thoughts of all personnel, are with Kevin’s family and friends.”
The Garda Representative Association said members were “numbed by the sudden and devastating loss of a colleague,” while the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors called it a “dark day” for the force.
An investigation is ongoing.
