Gardai release details of funeral of Garda Kevin Flatley who died in the line of duty

The funeral mass for Garda Flatley will take place at St Peter and Paul’s Church, Balbriggan, Co Dublin at 1.30pm tomorrow.

The funeral mass will be followed by a family burial in Newcastle, Co Dublin.

The mass will be broadcast live on large screens outside the church and will be streamed live on the An Garda Síochána Facebook page, commencing at approximately 1.15pm.

Traffic restrictions are in place, with “very limited” parking in the vicinity of St Peter and Paul’s Church.

The carpark beside the church will not be available as it will be required to facilitate overflow from the church.

The Garda Press Office urged mourners to follow the advice and directions of stewards and gardaí working in the vicinity of the church.

“If possible please use public transport,” the office stated. “Balbriggan train station is a 15-minute walk from St Peter and Paul’s Church and less than a 5-minute walk from McNallys Funeral Home.”

The funeral cortege will travel from McNallys Funeral Home, Drogheda Street, Balbriggan to St Peter and Paul’s Church on May 16.

To facilitate the cortege, the main street through Balbriggan, R132 (Drogheda Street through Bridge Street and Dublin Street) will be closed to all traffic for a period from approximately 12 midday, until after the funeral services.

Diversions will be in place.

Parking restrictions will also be in place on the main street through Balbriggan, R132 (Drogheda Street through Dublin Street) from Thursday, May 15.

Drew Harris speaks about the death of Garda Kevin Flatley

It is anticipated that there will be additional traffic and pedestrian activity in the vicinity of McNallys Funeral Home, Drogheda Street, Balbriggan on the evening of Thursday, 15 May, 2025, from 4pm.

The 49-year-old father of two was working overtime to help his colleagues when he was hit as he recorded vehicles’ speeds on the side of the road on the R132 at Lanestown on Sunday afternoon.

He has been remembered in his funeral notice as a “dedicated member of An Garda Síochána” as well as an “avid member and coach” of O’Dwyers GAA club.

Gda Flatley, who is predeceased by his sister Elaine, is described as the “beloved husband of Úna and loving father of Erin and Aoife”.

“Very sadly missed by his adoring wife and daughters, parents Michael and Breda, brother John, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, extended family, friends and neighbours.”

He will lie in repose at McNally’s Funeral Home in Balbriggan on Thursday, May 15 from 4pm until 7pm, before his removal on Friday afternoon to SS Peter and Paul’s Church.

His family have requested family flowers only with donations in lieu to Little Blue Heroes, a charity founded by members of the gardaí to support families of children with serious illnesses.

Many have paid tribute to Gda Flatley in the aftermath of the incident, including President Michael D Higgins, who said Gda Flatley “dedicated his career to public service and to keeping people safe”.

“The loss of a garda has a deep impact on society due to this strong connection and my thoughts are with his family and all those who knew and cared for Gda Flatley across his life,” he said.

Tánaiste Simon Harris said Gda Flatley was “a long-serving and much-respected member” of the force who was “devoted” to his job, while Garda Representative Association president Mark O’Meara said all at the organisation were “numbed by the sudden and devastating loss of a colleague, friend and member of the garda family”.

In the aftermath of Gda Flatley’s death, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said there is a need to ensure gardaí can carry out their duties in as safe an environment as possible.

“I think the Garda Commissioner is correct in saying that there will have to be a reset or a complete re-look at this. We have an obligation to protect the members of An Garda Síochána as they carry out their duties, to do everything that we possibly can to ensure a safe environment,” he told The Pat Kenny Show on Newstalk.