Family, friends, colleagues and politicians attend the removal of Garda Frank Hand killed in the line of duty.
On 10 August 1984, Detective Garda Frank Hand and Detective Garda Michael Dowd, were on duty in an unmarked patrol car escorting a cash delivery to Drumree Post Office in County Meath. They were attacked by the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA), who opened fire on the Gardaí and made off with £220,000. Both Gardaí were wounded, but Detective Garda Frank Hand's injuries were fatal.
A postmortem on Detective Garda Frank Hand was carried out at Our Lady's Hospital in Navan, County Meath.
The tiny hospital mortuary was packed with mourners who filed past Garda Hand’s coffin to pay their final respects.
Gardaí form a guard of honour as Detective Frank Hand’s coffin, draped in a tricolour is carried from the mortuary to the hearse.
The grieving family of the deceased Garda includes his wife of five weeks Breda Hogan. Government ministers present include Minister for Justice Michael Noonan and Tánaiste Dick Spring. Also present are the Garda Commissioner Laurence Wren and the Army Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Gerry O'Sullivan as well as other senior Garda and Army officers.
The Taoiseach flew home this evening from France to be present at the funeral tomorrow.
The cortege makes its way from Navan on the two-hour journey to Ballybay Church, Kiltoom, in County Roscommon.
Detective Garda Frank Hand was posthumously awarded the Scott medal for bravery in 1986.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 12 August 1984. The reporter is Alan McCullough.
