Published: Thursday, 10th December, 2009 5:00pm

Garda sergeant who left positive legacy to his community

Sergeant Joe Flynn, Newbliss, County Monaghan, who died recently was one of the most popular members of the Garda Siochána to serve in the Cavan/Monaghan Division.

As well as being highly respected for his commitment to duty as an impartial police officer he was also much revered for his work at community level in the Newbliss and Clones areas.

Joe was a son of the late Charles and Ann Flynn, Mohill, County Leitrim and as a young man he joined the Garda Siochana in 1978. After passing out from Templemore Garda college he was assigned to his first posting in Monaghan town where he remained for approximately a year before being appointed to Clones. Joe as a courteous and competent police officer quickly endeared himself to the people of Clones and surrounding catchment. He was actively involved in the life of the local community in Clones both as a scout leader with Clones Scouts and as a member of the local branch of the Pioneer Total Abstinence Association. It was while in Clones that he met his future wife, Jane (nee Beattie). They were married in 1983 and became the parents of three wonderful children.

During the early 1980s Joe was recognised for his abilities as an able member of An Garda Siochana and this resulted in his secondment to the Garda Security branch. In this important role Joe proved himself to be a courageous and capable officer and following a successful tenure in the Security branch he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in 1990 with the appointment to Newbliss following.

As was the case during his tenure in Clones Joe exemplified the role of the good Community police officer. Just and competent in the performance of his duty he was also always available to assist people in their life's difficulties and has left a positive and indelible legacy to the community that he served.

No more so than in his establishment of the hugely successful gymnastics club in Newbliss which under his inspiration and direction has produced gymnasts of provincial, national and international calibre. His decision to establish the gymnastics club in Newbliss was born from a desire to create something that would benefit the community life of the area and particularly to tap into the talents of the young. For Joe it meant studying gymnastics himself and undertaking courses in both Ireland and England in order to make himself proficient in his role as a gymnastics instructor. The success of many gymnasts from the club is testament to his abilities in this regard. Gymnasts from the club achieved success at Community Games national finals and went on to participate at prestigious international gymnastic events internationally.

It was a purely voluntary endeavour on his part but it required a virtual nightly commitment such was the popularity of the gymnastic classes he ran at the Acorn Centre in Newbliss. The construction of a new purpose built gym was one of his foremost ambitions and as a result of a determined fundraising effort this was achieved with the new gym being opened in 2004. Joe at the time was particularly grateful to all involved in the fundraising effort that made the new gym possible.

He was actively involved in the national Community Games finals shouldering the burden of running the gymnastics events for several years up until the onset of illness and was a Vice President of the Irish Amateur Gymnastics Association (Tumbler section).

A lifelong Pioneer it was during his time as a Garda in Clones that he participated with the late Vincent Clerkin and others in a dramatic sketch that reached the All Ireland Readoiri finals.

Joe was first and foremost a wonderful family man and his wife Jane and children were the centre of his life. When diagnosed with illness in late 2008 he faced this challenge with the courage and faith which were his hallmark. He was always resolute and optimistic being sustained by his strong religious beliefs.

His passing while still in the prime of his life was greeted with deep shock and sadness throughout the community. A member of the Garda Siochana for over 30 years he was given a State funeral with full Garda honours. St. Laoibhin's church, Killeevan, was crowded to overflow for the Requiem Mass of which Father Corrigan was the chief celebrant.

The late Sergeant Joe Flynn is survived by his wife, Jane, children, David, Lisa and Paul, brothers Peadar and Cathal, sisters May, Sheila and Joan.

Interment was in Killeevan cemetery.

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