Offaly mourns retired garda superintendent

TRIBUTES have been paid to a retired Tullamore garda superintendent, Bernard (Bennie) Sheridan, following his death on Saturday.

Mr Sheridan, a resident of Arden Heights, Tullamore, had served as a sergeant in the town before promotion to superintendent.

Described as a “gentleman” by his colleagues in the force, he was remembered as an efficient and fair-minded administrator as he moved up the ranks.

Upon his retirement Mr Sheridan also dedicated himself to community work and made an especially impressive contribution to the Tullamore Housing Association, an organisation which was formed to provided emergency accommodation to people who found themselves homeless.

That issue emerged in the latter part of the superintendent's career in the Tullamore Garda District, and Tommy McKeigue, a founder of the association, said that Mr Sheridan had been a member right up to the time of his passing.

“He was a member of it and we kept in touch the whole time. He used to do the interviews because we would have a lot of applications for places and he would speak to them,” said Mr McKeigue.

“He would then have a reason for the decision he made and he would be able to tell us.”

Mr McKeigue, a former elected councillor, said he also knew that Mr Sheridan was held in high esteem by his garda colleagues.

“The guards liked him. He would always think things over, he would not jump in.”

The public had respect for him too, Mr McKeigue observed: “He was always very decent to people. He would have compassion for people who would be up in court.”

A tribute was also paid by Declan McSweeney, the Tullamore man who worked as a journalist for many years in the town.

“Bennie Sheridan was an absolute gentleman who did a great job in the Tullamore garda force,” said Mr McSweeney.

“I was always very grateful to him for his kindness at a difficult time when I was a teenager, and later dealt with him in his role as superintendent when I was working for Offaly Express. I admired his work for Tullamore Housing Association and extend deepest sympathy to the Sheridan family.”

Bernard (Bennie) Sheridan, who died on Saturday, March 1, was predeceased by his brothers, sisters and son-in-law Hugh and will be sadly missed by his loving wife May and family Maura, Kathy, Brian, Raymond, Fiona and Barry, sons-in-law Anthony, George and Pat, daughters-in-law Anne, Mary and Heather grandchildren and great grandchildren, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, relatives neighbours and many friends.

His remains were in repose at O'Reilly's funeral home in Tullamore on Tuesday evening before the funeral Mass on Wednesday (March 5) morning at 11.30am in the Church of the Assumption, Tullamore, followed by burial in Clonminch cemetery.