Many tributes have been paid to life-saver and family man Garda David ‘Dave’ Hearne who lost his life in a scuba diving accident off Hook Head last Saturday.
He was laid to rest in the adjoining cemetery following Requiem Mass in the Our Lady Star of the Sea Church, Duncannon, this afternoon.
Dave (47) and a father of four was diving with Hook Sub Aqua Club off Hook Head when the tragedy occurred. Despite the best efforts of the rescue services he was pronounced dead before he could be transferred to University Hospital Hospital and a special decompression unit.
Tributes were lead by Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Fearghail, T.D., Chairman of the Bravery Awards Council and the Garda Representative Association.
Waterford Ambulance Station said; “Our thoughts and prayers are with our colleagues at Waterford Garda Station following the untimely death of their colleague Garda Dave Hearne.”
“He was a very popular and a highly decorated guard having won a number of awards for bravery. Sincere sympathy to his family, friends and work colleagues at this most difficult time.”
Dunmore East Coast Guard said; “He will be remembered for his selfless commitment to the community in which he was stationed, borne out by his receipt of numerous bravery awards. We would like to convey our sympathies to his family, friends and colleagues at Waterford Garda Station.”
Waterford Marine Search and Rescue said; “We are so sorry to hear of the tragic passing of Garda David Hearne. Dave was a good friend of ours at WMSAR. We would like to offer our condolences to David’s family, friends and his colleagues.”
Back in 2014, Waterford Marine Search and Rescue presented Garda Hearne with a new PFD (personal floating device) after Garda Hearne had rescued three people from the River Suir and the Colligan River in Dungarvan in the previous years.
Dave trained to be a Garda at Templemore in 1994 and was initially with the Santry underwater unit, was later transferred to Cahir, Tipperary, and in recent times was based in Waterford Garda Station at Ballybricken.
Formerly of Innyard, Fethard-on-Sea, he lived at Johnshill, Waterford, with his heartbroken wife Barbara and their children Dylan (13), Toby (11), Noah (9), and Libby (7).
He was son of Declan and Gemma and brother of Bríd, Maeve and Declan and other loving family, relatives and legion of friends. R.I.P.