County Roscommon's longest serving Garda thanked for his years of service

The county’s longest serving Garda is set to retire.

Detective Garda Chris Murray will be retiring shortly after giving 30 years of service to the people of the county.

At  a sitting of Roscommon District Court, Judge James Faughnan led tributes to Detective Murray.

Before taking up the list, the judge said it was a bitter-sweet occasion for the court. He said that Garda Murray was the county’s longest serving Garda.

“He came to Roscommon and never left,” the judge remarked. He added that he had known the fellow County Leitrim man since primary school and that they had played football together, “and a better half back you’d never see.” He quipped that Detective Murray had made him look very good on the pitch.

The judge said that the detective had been an “exemplary” Garda.

“I have never heard a bad word about him,” he said, adding that he had always been very fair in his evidence. Judge Faughnan remarked that retired district court judge Geoffrey Browne had referred to him as 'Chief Superintendent Detective Garda Chris Murray'.

On behalf of the solicitors, Mr Sean Mahon said the detective had been a pleasure to deal with professionally and had been fair in every respect. His retirement was a “loss to the gardaí”, and he had epitomised a collaborative approach with the legal profession, Mr Mahon said.

Court registrar Ms Mairead Conway of the Court Service also thanked Detective Murray as did State Solicitor for County Roscommon, Kieran Madigan. Mr Madigan said that on behalf of himself and the DPP he wished Detective Murray a happy retirement, commending him for his courtesy and co-operation.

Court presenter Sergeant Conor McShane said his colleague was an absolute gentleman who had had a tremendous impact on An Garda Síochána.

Detective Murray thanked everyone for their kind words and courtesy. He said that all the judges that he had appeared before locally had been a pleasure to deal with.

“I have been in every court in the country, and I’ve seen it all,” he said before concluding: “There are really good people out there.”