Hero Garda who drowned in diving tragedy buried tomorrow
By COLIN BARTLEY
THE funeral will take place tomorrow of the Waterford-based Garda who died in tragic circumstances over the weekend.
Garda Dave Hearne (46) died after a freak accident during a recreational dive some 15km off Hook Head on Saturday evening.
He was diving at the time with Hook Sub Aqua Club, of which he was a member.
The club were diving an old wreck at the time, while also being on stand-by in the search for missing Wexford fisherman Dominic ‘Dom’ Sinnott, which was taking place close by.
Mr Sinnott had vanished last Friday while fishing off Kilmore Quay.
Garda Hearne is a former member of the Garda Water Unit but had been based in Waterford over recent years as part of the Traffic Corps.
A native of Fethard-on-Sea, his funeral will take place in Our Lady Star of the Sea Church in Duncannon, Co Wexford at 2pm tomorrow.
Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Fearghaíl led tributes to the father-of-four.
“I was deeply saddened to learn of the tragic death of Garda Hearne in Wexford,” said Deputy Ó Feargháil.
“He was a worthy recipient of a certificate of bravery in 2016 which was awarded to him for rescuing a man from the Colligan River in Waterford some years earlier.
“In his selfless service to others, Garda Hearne followed in the footsteps of his father, Declan, who was a bravery award recipient in 1958. My thoughts and prayers are with Garda Hearne’s wife, children and wider family at this time.”
Garda Hearn had saved seven lives in just three years and had received numerous awards for bravery.
