Funeral to be held for Garda Kevin Flatley in Balbriggan
The funeral of Garda Kevin Flatley who died in the line of duty is due to take place in Balbriggan in Co Dublin this afternoon.
The 49-year-old married father-of-two was knocked down and killed after he was struck by a motorcycle while operating a speed check last Sunday afternoon.
The chief mourners are his wife Una, his daughters Aoife and Erin, his parents Breda and Michael and his brother John. His sister Elaine predeceased him.
In Balbriggan, traffic restrictions will be in place with the main street closed from midday. Diversions will be in place.
The funeral mass will commence at 1.30pm at St Peter's and Paul's Church.
The celebrant is a family friend, Fr Dan Joe O'Mahony, a Capuchin, with the Garda chaplains, Fr Joe Kennedy, Fr Pat Stevenson and Archdeacon David Pierpoint, along with the parish priest and curate Canon John McNamara and Fr Anthony Gill, among those concelebrating the funeral mass.
The Archbishop of Dublin Dr Dermot Farrell will be represented on the altar by Fr Richard Sheehy, Episcopal Vicar for the area.
The President, Taoiseach, Tánaiste, Minister for Justice and other senior ministers, members of the Government and opposition parties will be in attendance.
The Defence Forces will be represented by Brigadier General Stephen Ryan, the Police Service of Northern Ireland by Assistant Chief Constable Bobby Singleton.
Garda Flatley's cortege will be escorted by gardaí led by the Commissioner Drew Harris from the funeral home to the church and will be accorded full Garda honours.
His coffin will be draped with the tricolour and his hat and gloves placed upon it.
The Garda Commissioner will present these to his widow Una at the end of the ceremony.
The funeral mass for Garda Kevin Flatley will be broadcast live on large screens outside the church, on the Garda Facebook page, and on the RTÉ News channel.
It will be followed by a private family burial in Newcastle in Co Dublin where Kevin Flatley is originally from.
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