Latest news with #MarkO'Meara
The Irish Sun
15-06-2025
- Politics
- The Irish Sun
First openly gay GRA President encourages force members to be honest about ‘who they are' after ‘difficult' years hiding
THE first openly gay president of the Garda Representative Association has revealed how he was married to the mother of their two teenage children when he came out. Mark O'Meara today takes the courageous step of telling his story to encourage other members of the force not to fear being "open and honest about who they are". Advertisement 4 The GRA President, photographed in his office, has issued an encouraging message for other force members Credit: CONOR Ó MEARÁIN 4 The Garda Representative Association have been accepting of his sexuality Credit: Collect His decision to speak also comes ten years on from the Marriage Referendum, after which he found new love and is now remarried with his husband Rory, while also maintaining a really positive friendship with his ex-wife and two children. It's a far cry from when he was left really struggling, battling with the weight on his shoulders he felt from his O'Meara explained: "Having hidden my sexuality most of my life, I think now that I can be open and honest on how difficult that time of my life was. "I have no doubt so too do many other Advertisement READ MORE ON LGBT "It's not being the real you, the complete you, that affects your relationships with others, in my case it was with my ex-wife and our two children. "I'm not saying we didn't have a good "But it could have been so much more, particularly for my kids, who no matter how much they deny it, had to find it so very difficult and upsetting, and I'm still very conscious of that. "I was lucky in so many ways that my wife and Advertisement Most read in Irish News Originally from Thurles in Co From an early age, O'Meara knew he was 'different' but didn't know how to label it because it was a time in Gardai roll out new tool in crackdown on e-scooters After secondary school, he moved to After some bar work and other random jobs, he signed up for the Advertisement It was in the O'Meara said: "Sexuality wasn't an issue for me at that point. From memory, it had no relevance to me at that time at all. "I had no doubts that I wanted to get married." Following almost nine years based in England's capital, he and his wife returned to Ireland as he joined the Advertisement They lived a happy life and had two children together, but as time passed, O'Meara's sexuality began to take its toll. It affected his confidence and how he put himself forward, describing it as one of the most difficult things he has had to grapple with in life. 'MARRIAGE BEGAN TO SUFFER' He explained: "It only became an issue for me years later after the birth of our second child but I just put it to the back of my mind and had more or less resigned myself to my life with my wife and kids and that was it. "We were such good friends so I just thought that sexuality wouldn't be an issue and we would grow old together, and in my mind then I thought my sexuality would have been something in my past. Advertisement "Things just started to fragment over time and the marriage began to suffer and we took the difficult decision to separate. "I think at that point I just knew I would have to walk away, the pressures were affecting me both physically and mentally. "We tried "That was the most difficult part, but funnily enough it was the news of the breakdown of the marriage that hurt them most, whereas the news of my sexuality seemed to be insignificant in comparison for them." Advertisement While the separation and divorce was "very difficult" for the 'HAPPY RELATIONSHIP' In 2015, O'Meara met his partner Rory, who his children see as their "second dad", and the couple later wed. He added: "My ex-wife and I enjoy a close relationship and we talk regularly. I was lucky to meet someone, and after the marriage referendum I married my husband Rory, in August 2018. "My ex-wife and our children were at the Advertisement There was no "big reveal" of O'Meara's sexuality to his friends or community but eventually people became aware and he told some colleagues at work, who he got great support from. O'Meara explained: "I was attached to the "But I never once witnessed any homophobic or masochistic attitudes towards me. "In fact it was quite the opposite and they were hugely, hugely supportive towards me. I think like myself, many of them forgot I was gay because it became so insignificant that it made no difference whatsoever. Advertisement "I think what was important to them was that I was still the same person and that I hadn't changed and I was still 'Mark', but Mark just happened to be gay. "I was stationed in Cahir in South Tipperary for 17 years before the College and again, when I came out, all I've ever had is support and never judgement. I've done enough of that to myself over my lifetime, so I'm grateful others haven't judged me." 'BE YOURSELF' O'Meara also told how his sexuality has never affected his career or work with the GRA, which represents over 11,000 rank and file garda members. He added: "It's never been an issue. Being the first openly gay President of the Association hasn't caused me any difficulties." Advertisement Asked if he had any advice for members who are struggling like he once did, he said: "I came from a completely different generation in many ways to the younger members, but still I personally never had to deal with any negative experience, repercussions or hostility for my sexuality. "Clearly I cannot speak for every one of my colleagues around my age. But I think for younger members, I certainly hope that it is less of an issue for them. For those that believe it is an issue, I would appeal to them to 'just be yourself, be yourself and be proud of your sexuality. "Don't shy away from it, and please don't cause yourself any unnecessary mental and physical anguish and pain over the years. "Our sexuality, whatever it is, is a proud part of us all, but it doesn't, nor should it, define us." Advertisement 4 Mark O'Meara married his partner Rory in 2018 Credit: Collect 4 Mark revealed his children view his husband as a 'second dad' Credit: CONOR Ó MEARÁIN
The Journal
15-06-2025
- Politics
- The Journal
Head of garda group: 'The moment I came out, it became the most insignificant part of me'
THE PRESIDENT OF a garda group has said that he hopes that talking about his sexuality will help his colleagues. Mark O'Meara is currently the elected head of the Garda Representative Association (GRA) which represents rank and file members of Ireland's police force. In an interview published in the Garda Review, the group's magazine, he speaks about his own experiences of being a gay man in An Garda Síochána. O'Meara, who was first a member of the Metropolitan Police in London when he left Thurles, Co Tipperary in the 1980s. He then came home to Ireland and became a garda. He said his decision to speak openly was to give people an understanding of the difficulties he faced coming to terms with his sexuality and that he hopes it will help other gardaí. 'I am now in the final year of my presidency and I felt it was important to talk about this while I still had the platform of the position that I hold and hope to get across my experience of being a gay man within An Garda Síochána and perhaps inspire others to know it is okay to be open and honest about who they are,' he said. O'Meara said that he felt it would be 'disingenuous' if he didn't speak up. 'I just wanted to be open and honest and if this interview even helps one member of the GRA and indeed, An Garda Síochána, then it will have been worth it,' he added. The interview is the GRA's way also to mark Dublin Pride Parade on 28 June – it will come on 10th anniversary of the marriage equality referendum. Mark is married now to his partner Rory but he was married previously. In the interview he explained how difficult that time was for him as he was finding a way to be open about his sexuality with his loved ones from the previous relationship. Advertisement 'Having hidden my sexuality most of my life, I think now that I can be open and honest on how difficult that time of my life was, and I have no doubt so too, do many other gay people who can't, or who are afraid to come out, and so might suffer damaging mental and physical health. 'It's not being the real you, the complete you, that affects your relationships with others, in my case it was with my ex-wife and our two children,' he added. O'Meara said his experience of life in An Garda Síochána was positive and when he came out to his colleagues he was working in the driving school in Templemore Garda College. He said he was worried, before telling his colleagues, that he would be outed at work and keeping the secret was the most difficult time for him. 'But there's no doubt that for a number of years I struggled to have the confidence I have now. 'There were times when my daily prevailing thought was 'will someone look at me and say, he looks gay' and so up to the point where I came out, my sexuality was definitely one of the most difficult issues I ever dealt with. 'But the moment I came out it immediately became the most insignificant part of me, it meant nothing,' he added. Despite those struggles O'Meara does not regret coming out sooner. 'If I came out sooner, or even been conscious of how I really felt, that I wouldn't have married or had my children, perhaps wouldn't have then met my husband. 'So the timing and what happened over the years is nothing that I regret as I wouldn't be the man I am or have the things I have today. 'So I have no regrets as such, just perhaps guilt, some justifiable, some unjustified because you find solace in the fact that you were trying to protect your kids from hurt and pain. 'But in the end, it was for the best as my kids now see a much happier dad and we have a brilliant relationship,' he added. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
The Journal
06-05-2025
- The Journal
Man arrested after van driven at garda causing serious injuries in Ardee last week
A MAN HAS been arrested in connection with an investigation into a van being driven at a garda causing serious injuries last week. The incident occurred in the early hours of the morning of 2 May in Clonmore Estate in Ardee, Co Louth when gardaí approached a parked van. Advertisement The van is understood to have been driven at the gardaí, injuring one who had exited their patrol vehicle to investigate. He sustained serious but non-life-threatening injuries and was transferred to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda. The arrested man, aged in his 40s, is currently detained at a garda station in the Eastern region, gardaí said. Gardaí are continuing to appeal for witnesses to come forward. Mark O'Meara, President of the Garda Representative Association (GRA) described the incident last week as 'extremely serious and concerning'. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Daily Mirror
06-05-2025
- Irish Daily Mirror
Man arrested after van deliberately driven at Garda in horror incident
A man has been arrested after an incident in which a van was deliberately driven at a member of An Garda Síochána. Gardaí confirmed on Tuesday morning that a man in his 40s was arrested on Monday in connection with the incident, which occurred in the early hours of Friday morning (May 2), in Ardee, Co Louth. The horror incident unfolded at around 4.20am on Friday morning while Gardaí were on patrol in the Clonmore Estate area in Ardee. Gardaí in a patrol car approached the van that was parked up in the estate. When a male officer got out of the patrol car to investigate, the van was then deliberately driven at him. He sustained serious but non life-threatening injuries to both his legs. He was due to undergo surgery on Friday at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda. It is understood the officer has only been in the force for around five years, according to sources. The arrested man is currently detained at a Garda station in the Eastern region under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984. Gardaí are continuing to appeal for witnesses to this incident to come forward. Any road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were travelling in Clonmore Estate area between 4:00am and 4:40am on the 2nd May 2025 are asked to make this footage available to investigating Gardaí. Anyone with any information is asked to contact Ardee Garda Station on 041 6871330, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station. Speaking in the aftermath of the incident on Friday, Garda Representative Association (GRA) President Mark O'Meara said: 'This is an extremely serious and concerning incident and our thoughts and prayers are with the injured member, his family and colleagues in the Ardee community. 'It is a stark reminder of the dangers faced by frontline Gardaí on a daily basis while on duty and I want to wish our colleague the very best and hope for a full recovery. 'Our Louth divisional representative will be liaising with the member's family and colleagues to monitor his progress.' Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
Irish Times
06-05-2025
- Irish Times
Man (40s) arrested after hit and run injuring garda in Louth
A man in his 40s has been arrested after a hit and run incident in Co Louth left a garda in a serious condition in hospital. The incident happened in Ardee when the garda got out of his patrol car to investigate a van which was parked suspiciously at about 4.20am on Friday. The van was driven at gardaí and hit a garda who had exited the patrol car to investigate. He sustained serious but non-life-threatening injuries and was transferred to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda. READ MORE [ Garda suffers serious injuries in Co Louth hit and run Opens in new window ] An investigation is ongoing while the injured garda 'is continuing in his recovery for serious injuries with support from Garda welfare services,' a Garda official said. On Monday evening, a man in his 40s was arrested in connection with the Garda investigation and is detained at a Garda station in the eastern region under section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984. An Garda Síochána renewed its appeal for any witnesses of the incident to come forward. 'Any road users who may have camera footage (including dashcam) and were travelling in Clonmore Estate area between 4am and 4.40am on the May, 2nd 2025 are asked to make this footage available to investigating Gardaí. 'Anyone with any information is asked to contact Ardee Garda station on 041 6871330, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station,' a Garda representative said. The incident was described as 'extremely serious and concerning' by Garda Representative Association president Mark O'Meara. 'It is a stark reminder of the dangers faced by frontline gardaí on a daily basis while on duty and I want to wish our colleague the very best and hope for a full recovery,' he said.
