Last weekend Garda colleagues, family and friends gathered at Terry Brennan’s Central
Tavern, Loughgeorge to pay tribute to Garda Sergeant Pat Fitzmaurice who retired from
the Garda Siochana. Sergeant Pat Fitzmaurice has been based at Loughgeorge for the past
six years having come from Monivea where he had been for several years before that.
Sergeant Pat who was a native of Ballygar spent a lengthy period in Dublin, but came
back to Galway and was stationed at the western outpost of Clifden which was a far from
his home as Dublin, but later when transferred to Monivea set up home in Monivea with
his wife Bernie and sons Padraic and Gerard.
Many tributes were paid to Sergeant Pat Fitzmaurice at the function which was attended
by Chief Superintendent Donal O Culain, Superintendent Martin Lee, Detective
Superintendent P J Durkin and Inspector Tony O’Donnell, Sergeant Pat Dolan
representing the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors and many other senior
members of the Garda Siochana.
Chief Superintendent Donal O Culain said that Sergeant Pat Fitzmaurice had given a
lifetime of service to the Garda Siochana and it was his pleasure to have worked with him
in Dublin. Chief Superintendent O Culain said that with Sergeant Pat Fitzmaurice what
you saw was what you got and while many people may not have liked it, he was straight
to the point with his work.
Local T.D. Mr. Noel Grealish paid homage to Sergeant Pat Fitzmaurice and thanked him
for his contribution and service to the area. He described Sergeant Fitzmaurice as a direct
person with a direct approach, but added that his first meeting with the then new
Sergeant for the area, he was taken back when it became a question of mistaken identity.
Deputy Grealish wished Sergeant Pat Fitzmaurice every good wish on his retirement.
Sergeant Pat Dolan of Monivea who is a neighbour of retiring Sergeant Pat Fitzmaurice
said that he was a great neighbour and that he looked forward to seeing more of him
around Monivea.
Superintendent Martin Lee made a presentation to Sergeant Pat Fitzmaurice on behalf of
the Garda Siochana and Sergeant Pat Dolan made a presentation to Sergeant Fitzmaurice
on behalf of the AGSI the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors.
The retirement of Sergeant Pat Fitzmaurice comes just a few weeks after the retirement of
long serving Garda Pat Heneghan and Garda Mick McCarthy who is just two years at
Loughgeorge will have two new based colleagues with him in Loughgeorge in the very
near future. The people of the area wish Sergeant Pat Fitzmaurice every good wish and
good health on his retirement where he can now spend more time with his wife Bernie
and sons Padraic and Gerard and extend a warm welcome to the new Sergeant Tom
Bermingham who is taking up duty in Loughgeorge shortly.
– Frank Kearney
