HUNDREDS of people attended the funeral earlier today 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 this June.
He passed away last Friday surrounded by his family at Milford Hospice in Castletroy following a short illness.
The 78-year-old native of Mourneabbey, County Cork was laid to rest in the West Limerick village of Kilcornan, following Requiem Mass at St Mary’s Church, Athlunkard Street, Limerick City.
Among the congregation were aide de camps for the President Michael D Higgins and Taoiseach Micheal Martin. Garda Commissioner Drew Harris, was represented by Assistant Commissioners Anne-Marie McMahon and Michael Finn.
Others in attendance were Limerick Garda Chief Superintendent Gerry Roche; Ann McCabe, widow of the late Detective Garda Jerry McCabe who was Ben O’Sullivan’s partner; serving and former Gardaí as well as local politicians including Deputies Willie O’Dea and Kieran O’Donnell.
Mourners heard how the late Ben O’Sullivan had suffered the horrors of being seriously wounded and loosing his best friend and Garda colleague Detective Garda Jerry McCabe in an IRA gun attack in Adare on June 7, 1996.
However he balanced the trauma he suffered on that day by his love for his family, nature, farming, and animals.
Members of the Limerick Garda Division stood in tribute for a minute’s silence outside the Limerick Garda headquarters on Henry Street, as the funeral cortège travelled to Kilcornan cemetery.
The former Detective Garda was awarded the Scott medal in 1994 after he disarmed a gunman in Limerick City and received a second Scott medal in 2000 following the shooting in Adare. He was awarded the Freedom of Limerick in 2018 along with Ann McCabe, who accepted the award on behalf of her murdered husband in 2018.
He is survived by his wife Anne, son John, and daughters Marianne, Evelyn and Aoife.
