In pictures: 100th-anniversary memorial for Donegal Garda killed on duty

A Mass, followed by an unveiling of a commemorative plaque, was held at the Church of St Joseph and St Conal, Bruckless on Sunday to mark the death of Garda John ‘Jack’ Murrin 100 years ago - Please use the arrows/next to view the gallery

Born in 1898 across the road in what is now known as Mary Murrin’s, he joined An Garda Síochána having previously worked in the family business as a merchant and served in the Irish Volunteers (1918-1922) and the National Army (1922-1923).

On May 6, 1924, Murrin and his colleague from the station at Carrick-on-Suir, Co Tipperary, Sergeant Thomas Griffin - from Greenmount, Cork city - worked as members of Ireland’s new unarmed Police force. Their mission was to apprehend a suspect for a shooting on the previous day at another unarmed member of An Garda Síochána in Killonerry, Co Kilkenny. 

Both men were fatally shot by the suspect that day. Sergeant Griffin died from his injuries just 24 hours later and Murrin succumbed to his wounds five months later, that October. They, along with other members of An Garda Síochána killed in this period, knowingly went out to police a country emerging from years of civil strife, a War of Independence and subsequent Civil War, knowing the mortal danger they faced but determined to provide an unarmed and accepted police service for their people.