Sick vandals attacked a memorial plaque erected to a Garda killed in the line of duty in Co Donegal and then dumped it outside his grieving girlfriend’s house.
Gardai say they are disgusted by the attack on the plaque put up in Burt by the heartbroken family of the late Garda Gary McLoughlin.
The 24 year old Garda died when he was struck by a car on December 14th, 2009.
Criminal Martin McDermott, who had more than 80 convictions when he killed Garda McLoughlin, was later sentenced to seven years for his manslaughter.
The plaque was erected at the scene of Gary’s death at Lisfannon, Burt by his family last year.
The plaque reads simply “For some moments in life there are no words.”
However Gardai believe that on Monday night or early Tuesday morning last the plaque was smashed into different pieces.
One of the pieces was then taken more than 25 kms away to the late Garda McLoughlin’s girlfriend Shauna Bradley’s home at Drumfries outside Buncrana.
The vandals left the piece of the plaque on the bonnet of a disused car belonging to a family member and also sprayed ‘RIP’ on the piece of the plaque.
Garda Superintendent Kevin English told Highland Radio’s Shaun Doherty Show he and all members of An Garda Siochana have been left ‘sickened and disgusted’ by the mindless attack.
“I have no words to adequately describe what happened – it was sick, vile and sinister in the extreme and it has caused untold hurt to the family of Gary, the community and all his colleagues.
“It is a depraved act carried out by people who have no respect for anyone and it is a direct attack on Gary, his family and An Garda Siochana,” he said.
Supt English revealed he has been in touch with the late Garda McLoughlin’s family including his dad Noel and mum Una.
He said they are devastated by what has happened and cannot understand why someone has done this to the memory of their youngest son.
Earlier this month the McLoughlin family travelled from their native Fenagh in Co Leitrim to receive a posthumous honour from Donegal County Council in memory of Gary.
Garda Supt English said he doesn’t know how much the McLoughlin family can take.
“These people not only removed the plaque but also sprayed graffiti on it. I don’t know how anyone can stoop so low. I don’t known how much more this family can take.
“They have endured the loss of their son, a criminal trial and then the escape of Martin McDermott. All they ask is time to grieve for their unnecessary loss.
“There are no words to describe it. I have never experienced such an act. They now find themselves plunged into further grief.
“They are deeply, deeply hurt and are totally confused as to why someone would want to inflict such pain on them,” he said.
The leading Garda vowed that everything will be done to track down the people who carried out the depraved act.
“I have no doubt in my mind that the majority of people in Buncrana and Donegal will be repulsed by this.
“They have been very supportive to the McLoughlin family and no effort will be spared by us to bring the perpetrators who done this to justice.
“I would ask people to come forward and I am confident that whoever did this is from the local community. They knew what additional hurt and pain they were going to cause by doing this,” he said.
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