Hundreds of people have attended the funeral of retried Detective Garda Ben O’Sullivan, a two-time recipient of the Garda Scott Medal for Bravery, who survived an IRA gun attack 26 years ago.
Mr O’Sullivan, 78, a native of Mallow, Co Cork, was laid to rest in Co Limerick after his funeral mass held at St Mary’s Church, Athlunkard Street, Limerick City.
Mourners heard he had suffered the horrors of being seriously wounded and losing his best friend and garda colleague Detective Garda Jerry McCabe in an IRA gun attack in Adare on June 7, 1996.
But they heard he balanced the trauma he suffered on that day by his love for his family, nature, farming, and animals.
The mass was attended by aide de camps for the President of Ireland Michael D Higgins and Taoiseach Micheal Martin and the Garda Commissioner, Drew Harris, was represented by Assistant Commissioners Anne-Marie McMahon and Ass Comms Michael Finn, head of the Garda Southern Division, as well as Limerick Chief Superintendent Gerry Roche.
Members of the Limerick Garda Division performed a guard of honour outside the Limerick Garda headquarters on Henry Street, where the funeral cortège paused during a minute silence before it travelled to Kilcornan cemetery, where Mr O’Sullivan was laid to rest.
Others who attended the mass included Jerry McCabe’s widow, Ann, and members of the McCabe family, serving and former gardai, and local politicians including Willie O’Dea, Fianna Fáil, and Kieran O’Donnell, Fine Gael.
Mr O’Sullivan was awarded the Scott medal in 1994 after he disarmed a gunman who was on the loose in Limerick City. He received a second Scott medal in 2000 following the shooting in Adare.
Mr O’Sullivan was awarded the Freedom of Limerick in 2018. Ann McCabe, who had accepted a Scott medal on behalf of her late husband in 2000 also received the Freedom of Limerick on his behalf in 2018.
Mr O’Sullivan passed away last Friday surrounded by his family at Milford Hospice following a short illness.
He is survived by his wife Anne, son John, and daughters Marianne, Evelyn and Aoife.
