Tony Golden, Irish police officer, Died at 36

  Dead Famous

Garda Tony Golden was 36 years old when he was shot dead on October 11, 2015, while on a domestic violence call-out.

Officer Golden was originally from Culleens, Ballina, County Mayo.

Officer Golden worked with Garda Síochána, the national police service of Ireland for 10 years..

Tony Golden was married with three young children, and worked at the Omeath Garda Station and had lived there for 6 years, having joined the force previously.

It was said that on  Sunday, 11 October 2015, Garda Golden was on duty, in uniform and unarmed.

He was shot dead by known republican called Adrian Crevan Mackin after he entered a property on the Mullach Álainn estate of North Louth, while escorting Crevan Mackin’s partner, who had been the victim of domestic violence at the hands of Craven Mackin.

The woman  was also shot and critically injured during the shooting.

Adrian Crevan Mackin is then believed to have turned the gun on himself and committed suicide.

However, It is understood that officer Tony Golden was accompanying Ms Crevan Mackin’s partner to protect her while collecting her belongings as she was ,moving back to her own family home because of the domestic abuse she had gone through.

Her father remained alone in the waiting patrol car outside the house, and raised the alarm when gunshots were heard.

Garda Golden was credited with laying down his own life and saving the life of the young woman.

The brave officer was also credited for the decision to tell the woman’s father to remain in the car, a decision that  saved his life as no harm came to him.

Garda  Tony Golden was shot with an illegally-held 9mm Glock, 17 semi-automatic pistol, and there was many more ammunition found on the premises during follow-up searches.

Reports also state that another Glock handgun was recovered in the deceased suspect’s car, along with 700 rounds of pistol ammunition and cans filled with petrol; To the police this was indicating that Crevan Mackin may have been planning a mass attack which was interrupted by the shooting with Garda Golden.

All types of questions were raised by various public figures, politicians, the media and the general public as to why a lone unarmed Garda would be tasked to the house of a known violent terrorist, someone suspected of importing and selling guns, as to why the killer was still in possession of powerful illegal firearms and illegal ammunition while on bail relating to terrorism charges  and further issues were raised about cutbacks to Garda resources and the lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) for regular uniformed members.

This incident took place less than 3 years after Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was fatally gunned down just a number of kilometers away by a criminal gang with links to dissident Republicans, who to date have not been brought before the courts.

Garda Tony Golden, was given a full state funeral on 15 October 2015 at The Saint Oliver Plunkett’s Church, BlackRock,  in County Louth.

Investigations are still been carried out.

Tony Golden passed away on the 11th of October 2015.