Detective Colm Horkan has been described as God's "right-hand man" at his funeral mass in Mayo this afternoon.
Hundreds of Gardaí performed a guard of honour as his remains travelled from his home to the church for his funeral mass in Charlestown
The funeral mass began with an emotional minute of silence in the church in Charlestown, which was repeated at garda stations across the country.
Several gifts were bought to the altar as symbols of his life including a garda notebook, a jersey from his local GAA club and a Liverpool tie pin - which his brother Dermot Horkan said summed up his attitude to his friends and family:
Colleagues from the Roscommon-Longford Garda division were among hundreds who lined the route to the church from his home this morning ahead of the mass.
In his homily, Monsignor Tommy Johnston, Parish Priest of Charlestown said people were left asking questions following his death :
Father Dermot Meehan, Diocesan Administrator of Achonry prayed that Colm, who he described as "the guardian of peace" would now rest in the peace that he lived and died to protect.
He will be laid to rest in the cemetery adjoining St James' church this afternoon.
