Death of popular retired garda superintendent Jerry Clifford

A man who made his mark in the worlds of policing and sport, and to whom his Catholic faith was the touchstone against which all life's activities were measured.

That was Jerry Clifford, husband, father, and retired Garda Superintendent, who died yesterday (Tuesday), August 15.

Jerry was held in the highest esteem by all who knew him: he was a man of integrity, kindness, honesty and good fun, who threw himself wholeheartedly into life and brightened the lives of all whom he encountered.

He was also holder of a prestigious silver Scott Medal, bestowed by the Commissioner of An Garda Síochána to gardaí who have shown exceptional bravery and heroism involving the risk of life in the execution of duty.

A native of Ballyhindon, near Fermoy, Co Cork, Jerry joined An Garda Síóchána in 1961, and his first posting was to Dundalk.

It was there, while still technically a recruit, with just nine months' experience under his belt, that he obtained his silver Scott medal. The action for which he received the award was for disarming a man armed with a shotgun who had been threatening both gardaí and his own family.

From Dundalk, Jerry was posted to Drogheda where he met Maeve Maguire, who was to become his wife, and after promotion to the rank of sergeant, he was appointed to Dromad in Co Louth for a spell, before he was transferred to Ballynacargy in 1975, his first Westmeath posting.

In 1979, then-Sergeant Clifford was moved to Mullingar as sergeant in charge, and in 1984, having been promoted to the rank of inspector, he was transferred to Dublin, where he served in Santry, Whitehall and Ballymun.

His next move was back to Athlone, where in 1991, he attained the rank of superintendent, and he was later transferred to Belmullet. His final move was back to Mullingar, and he retired from An Garda Síochána in January 2000.

Jerry was a member of the national executive of the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors in the 1980s, while in 1994, he was elected to the national executive of the Association of Garda Superintendents. He was appointed the Association's Secretary in 1996 and retained the post up to his retirement, during which time he was deeply involved in all national negotiations.

Not one to stay idle, after his retirement, Jerry went to work for Acorn Life Assurance, and he also worked with the 1428 Club in Mullingar.

A keen sportsman, Jerry had several honours to his credit, including that of winning the captain's prize at Mullingar Golf Club in 1987.

His earliest sporting endeavours were, however, on the football and hurling fields of Cork, starting out at Grange, where he went to school.

In Dundalk. he played football with Clanna Gael, and while in Drogheda, he played with The Newtown Blues GFC, winning five Louth County Championship medals with them in the 1960s.

Jerry's sporting skills also saw him play with Na Piarsaigh with which he picked up two National Hurling League medals in Louth.

When he moved to Westmeath, Jerry played with Ballynacargy, and was a member of the Ballynacargy team that won the Westmeath Junior Football Championship in 1976. He also served in administrative roles with Ballynacargy GAA and later with Mullingar Shamrocks, a club with which his children and grandchildren are still associated.

Jerry also played with Mullingar RFC Club right in to his forties, and while a young garda, picked up a basketball award also.

He was also keenly interested in soccer, whose allegiance was to Manchester United and he enjoyed the occasional trip to Old Trafford to see the team in action.

Jerry was also a keen gardener, and his garden at Walshestown, was the subject of much comment, due to his exacting standards, and the resulting displays of colour. Another passion was singing, and his talents as a tenor made him a welcome member of the Mullingar Choral Society for many years, as well as, latterly, the Sweet Tunes choir.

His Catholic faith was of deep importance to Jerry, and it guided him in all aspects of his life. A member of the Teams of Our Lady, he had a strong devotion to the Blessed Virgin, and it is of some comfort to his family that his death came on the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin.

Jerry was a member of both the Mullingar cathedral and the Meath diocesan Eucharistic Adoration committees, and he was involved in the early days of the Catholic Grandparents Association.

Possessed of a great curiosity about the world, Jerry and wife Maeve travelled extensively, enjoying long-haul trips to South America, China and South Africa. He visited 32 of the American states - including Alaska.

Sadly, ten years ago, Jerry began to suffer from dementia, but he remained the same affable and courteous person throughout. For the last year of his life, he lived at Portiuncula Nursing Home in Multyfarnham, and he was delighted to meet his first great-grandchild in April of this year.

A devoted family man, Jerry will be greatly missed by his devoted family: wife, Maeve, daughters Karen (Gunnell), Sheena (Foy), Darina (Maguire), Róisín (Masterson) and Eibhlín (Harrington); his son Shane, his twenty grandchildren; his great grandson; his brothers Billy and Seamus, sisters Eileen and Anne, sons-in-law Enda Gunnell, Tony Foy, Barry Maguire, Oisín Masterson and Derek Harrington; Shane's partner Enya Barron; his brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, relatives, neighbours, former colleagues in An Garda Síochana and a large circle of friends.

Mr Clifford's remains will repose at Gilsenan's Funeral Home on Thursday August 17 from 4 pm concluding with prayers at 7 pm. The requiem Mass will be on Friday August 18 at 11 am in the Cathedral of Christ the King, followed by burial at Walshestown Cemetery.

The family have requested that there be no flowers but that donations in lieu, if desired, may be sent to The Alzheimer Society of Ireland.