Athlone's Staci Daly remembered at ceremony honouring gardai who died whilst in service

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris remembered Athlone native Garda Staci Daly, who passed away earlier this month, during the ceremony to unveil the Monument of Remembrance at Garda Headquarters in the Phoenix Park at the weekend.

The recently refurbished monument dedicated to more than 1,800 members of An Garda Siochana who died whilst in service since it was founded in 1922, was unveiled by President Michael D. Higgins, Justice Minister Helen McEntee and Commissioner Harris who also laid wreaths in memory of those who had died, during Sunday's ceremony.

In his speech, Commissioner Harris welcomed the families, friends and colleagues of those whose names are inscribed on the monument, and said: "Today is about taking time to remember, to reflect, to share our memories and stories of those that we have lost."

He went on to say: "Sadly there is one colleague who has not yet been recorded on this memorial. Garda Staci Daly who passed away only last week.

"Her name will soon be inscribed here. She and her family are in our thoughts and prayers," he told the gathering.

Staci (née Wykes) passed away peacefully on September 7, at her home in Glenwood, Baylin, surrounded by her loving family, and news of her untimely death was greeted with much sadness and disbelief by all who knew her.

A native of Athlone, Staci, who would have turned 32 this month, spent her entire garda career in the Ashbourne Garda District.

She was posted to Ashbourne Garda Station in 2016 after graduating from Templemore, before later being assigned to Laytown Garda Station in January 2020.

Her death caused widespread sadness in her native Athlone, and the east Meath community where Staci was a very valued and well-liked Garda.

Superintendent Yvonne Murphy of Ashbourne Garda District paid tribute to Staci following her passing, describing her as a "conscientious, driven and professional young Garda".

She said: "On behalf of the Garda members and staff of An Garda Síochána, Ashbourne District, I want to pay tribute to our late colleague Garda Staci Wykes, Laytown Garda Station. Staci has sadly lost her long battle with illness but it was one borne with tremendous strength, courage and immense dignity. We are all, as colleagues and friends, deeply saddened by her passing.

"As a member of An Garda Síochána, Garda Staci Wykes was a valued member of our District team. She was a conscientious, driven and professional young Garda, who in her short career with us, made a significant impact on her colleagues; the victims of crime she supported; and the community she served. Garda Staci Wykes embodied the highest ethical and professional standards and the very best of An Garda Síochána."

Staci Daly is sadly mised by her devoted and loving husband, Cathal, parents Jackie and Pat Turley; sister Linda Carson; grandparents Billy and Imelda Doyle and Peggy Turley; Cathal's parents Noel and Anne; aunt Marilyn; in-laws Daniel, Niamh and Eimear; niece Hollie; relatives and many friends.