The Garda commissioner believes that it is important that the death of two officers in Roscommon forty years ago is never forgotten.
Up to 200 people attended a wreath-laying ceremony at Shannon's Cross in Loughglynn this afternoon to mark the anniversary of the deaths of Garda Henry Byrne and Detective Garda John Morley.
Senior gardai from across the region, as well as former colleagues of both men and relatives of Detective Garda Colm Horkan, were also in attendance
Drew Harris urged people never to forget the events of July 7th, 1980 and the bravery and courage of the two men:
Shane Morley was just a boy when his father was killed forty years ago.
He paid tribute to his father's interest in sport and helping out his community - and how his mother coped with the shocking death of her husband
Paul Byrne, son of Garda Henry Byrne was just five when his father was killed.
He said it was a special tribute to his mother that they were never bitter despite the events of forty years ago :
Detective Colm's Horkan father and brother were also in attendance at the memorial, less than a month after he was killed in Castlerea.
Fr Joe Kennedy, chaplin to the gardaí, said it was important that all three men would be remembered: