It was one of the biggest investigations in Irish history. The murder of a detective in the course of duty. A crime that sent shockwaves across the island.
Sir Ellis O’Hanlon’s intriguing article (‘Why it’s better to lead with the head, not heart’, Sunday Independent, April 28) delves into the political heart and mind of what makes a leader, asking if a taoiseach needs empathy.
It was a miserable evening on January 25, 2013 when Detectives Joe Ryan and Adrian Donohoe were tasked with a routine duty - escorting credit union takings across Cooley Peninsula.
The first missile thrown at gardaí in Newtownmountkennedy was a chair. Then chants of “scumbags” were hurled by angry men with hoods up. A few lumps of wood clattered through the air and connected with helmets. A building had caught fire from a burning pallet pyre, flames also licking around electricity poles. Beside it, a guy waved a Tricolour. Such patriotism. Such bravery. What a potent, toxic mix.