Mayo is in shock.
Two stabbings in one week. A family in mourning. One of our guardians of society wounded. People left to wonder what went wrong. What events led up to an incident where a garda is stabbed? What went on in a rural west of Ireland town to see a young father left murdered in a dark laneway?
Who has the answers? Does it matter what the answers are? A man is dead. Children left fatherless. A mother without her partner. Parents without their children. Brothers and sisters without their brother.
It happened in Galway too, not so long ago, during the west’s biggest festival of the season. A Claregalway family still mourns. These crimes don’t happen in this region. And definitely not in Kiltimagh. People ask, how could this happen in the lovely, quiet town of Kiltimagh where all people want to do is live, be happy, be harmonious? Does that mean anything any more?
We’re not used to these types of crimes in Mayo. Yes, they happen. But not too often. That’s why we love our native county. We feel safe here. Cosy, rural Ireland. Not so cosy right now.
We place huge responsibility on the shoulders of our gardaí. They are our protectors. They carry this duty with great pride. That’s why they entered the force: to guard, protect, seek justice for wrong doings.
Their own lives are put at risk. They have little to protect themselves with.
Westport has been shaken. Ireland’s tidiest town. On the shores of Clew Bay. Scenic, picturesque, beautiful. That’s what Westport is. Not a place where a garda is stabbed.
Saturday night. The town is busy. People enjoying their holidays, the weekend, the festival. Times are good. But are they? A garda who sought to ensure a safe weekend for all became a victim of a violent crime. How, why, could this happen in Westport?
These things happen in Dublin, in Limerick. Not in the west of Ireland. It’s a dark day, a dark week.
Who is responsible? Society? The education system? The law? We can lay the blame at many doors. But people make choices. Should people take responsibility for the choices they make? In most cases yes. Are there exceptions? Yes. Mental illness perhaps. Who is responsible then? I don’t know, it’s a difficult one. But in general, individuals are responsible for the lives they lead. The acquaintances they make. The places they go. The weapons they carry. How they use those weapons. Why would anyone need to carry a knife anyway? A fisherman perhaps would need one. Or a farmer. Would they bring it to town on a night out? I sincerely doubt it. Do you see knives lying around the streets of Westport or Kiltimagh? I don’t think so. Someone must have brought these weapons to the scene of the crimes.
It will take Mayo a while to get over the shock. How do we do that? That’s a tough one. We must remember the slain. Pray for the injured. Let the gardaí continue to be our protectors and support them in that role. If we know something we should assist them. Let us hope the guilty are brought to justice. It won’t erase the crimes they committed but it might help bring some healing to those most affected.
