Like many members of the Garda Síochána, 36-year-old Tony Golden appears to have been an ordinary man, whose work called upon him to do extraordinary things - and in that he was not found wanting.
He was born in Ballina, Co Mayo, to David and Breege Golden, and attended St Muredach’s College. A member of staff there remembered him on Monday as a “gentle giant” and said the school was “a quiet place” as current pupils and staff dwelt on what had happened.
A similar big presence was recalled at Ballina Stephenites GAA club, where he played. He was remembered there as “a big strong man in every sense of the word”.
DIT Bolton Street
He studied engineering at DIT Bolton Street but, as he recorded on social media, he failed fourth year.
An early job saw him work at Tuffy’s Cash & Carry in Ballina, but his settled career turned out to be in the Garda Síochána.
After training in Templemore, Co Tipperary, he served for 11 years in several divisions, notably at Cabinteely in south Co Dublin, and later in Omeath in Co Louth where he was one of three gardaí in a station whose numbers have been reduced markedly since the ending of the Troubles.
In 2008 he married Nicola O’Sullivan, and together they had three children – two girls and a boy – to whom they were both devoted.
The most recent photograph on Garda Golden’s social media home page shows him and Nicola together, smiling and hugging their children.
Garda Golden was described on Monday by colleagues and others who knew him as quiet and unassuming. He had served in Omeath for six years, where he was involved particularly in community policing, helping run the community alerts scheme.
‘Meticulous’
“He was meticulous about how he went about his work,” said Supt Gerry Curley of Dundalk station, adding that his death was a “major loss” to all his colleagues.
Garda Commissioner Noirin O’Sullivan, who visited Louth on Monday and called also on Garda Golden’s widow, said he was a “proud family man” who “was held in very high esteem”.
“The loss is unthinkable for Nicola, her parents and the extended family. He served community with dignity, with pride and distinction. . . He lived in the community, he worked in the community and he served the community,” said the Commissioner.
It emerged on Monday that in helping the partner of republican dissident Adrian Crevan Mackin, who was in fear of him, Garda Golden went with her to her house to be met by Mackin, standing at the top of the stairs.
He opened fire on both of them with a Glock semi-automatic pistol.
‘Extremely well liked’
Louth Sinn Féin councillor Jim Loughran said he knew Garda Golden and described him as a “very good community garda” and “extremely well liked in the area”.
Garda chaplain Fr Joe Kennedy also visited Ms Golden on Monday, in preparation for his funeral.
“I told Nicola there is nothing any of us can say or do that would change what’s happened,” he said.
“But I said we will be there with you over the coming days to celebrate Tony’s life and the good man that he was, the great garda that he was, and most of all the great family man that he was, blessed with three beautiful children.”
Ballina Fianna Fáil TD Dara Calleary said on Monday night Garda Golden came from a family “ hughly respected” in the town.
His fellow Mayo TD, Fine Gael’s Michelle Mulherin, said the “whole community will be rallying around the Golden family in this most painful time”.
A book of condolences has been opened at Ballina Garda station.
