The funeral mass of a man who died following an encounter with a garda in Dublin heard how he was caring, intelligent, and always willing to help strangers, reports The Mirror.
Paul Butler, 51, passed away on August 18, three days after a severe incident outside the Holiday Inn on O’Connell Street. He hit his head on the concrete and sadly died in the Mater Hospital from his injuries.
A member of An Garda Síochána was arrested by Fiosrú, the policing watchdog, in connection with the tragic death. Hundreds gathered for his funeral mass this morning, held at the Church of Saint Vincent de Paul in Marino, reports The Mirror.
Musicians played Forever Young as his coffin was carried into the church. Parish priest Fr Tom Noone welcomed Paul’s friends, family, neighbours, and colleagues while acknowledging the tragic and distressing event.
Mourners heard about his love for travel and playing the guitar, as well as his friendly nature, as he would start conversations with anyone. Fr Noone said Paul, from Dublin’s Grace Park area, was beloved by all and that he “saw no difference in people, he accepted everyone as they were,” reports The Mirror.
His devastated partner Áine said: “Paul was not only my partner, he was my best friend. Paul was an energetic and intelligent man. He had many interests such as playing the guitar… reading, he would have three books on the go, and he loved having conversations with all. He saw every person as equal and was not afraid to speak up for what was right.” She added that Paul was one of the kindest people she knew, often going out of his way to help strangers.
Áine expressed thanks to the nurses and doctors in the Mater Hospital ICU, who kept Paul comfortable in his last days. His sister Maria told the mass that he “loved all creatures” especially his budgies. The siblings enjoyed watching nature programmes together as children, particularly David Attenborough documentaries, reports The Mirror.
Paul is deeply missed by his partner Áine, mother Dympna, brothers and sisters Stephen, Ciara, Maria, Kevin, Maireád, Rachael, John, Aidan, Declan and Grace, their partners, Aunt Marian, nieces, nephews, his Kilkenny family, kind neighbours, and many friends.
In a statement to the Irish Mirror earlier this week, Fiosrú said: “Fiosrú, the Office of the Police Ombudsman, is independently investigating an incident referred by An Garda Síochána on Friday, 15 August 2025. The investigation is ongoing and Fiosrú will not be making any comment at this time,” reports The Mirror.
Mr Butler (51), who lived in the Grace Park area of Dublin, died last Monday evening — three days after the incident outside the Holiday Inn on O’Connell Street. Mr Butler died days after hitting his head on the concrete when gardai allegedly intervened after seeing him urinating on the street in the early hours.
The officer under investigation denies pushing Mr Butler, who is said to have stumbled and fallen during the intervention, reports The Mirror.
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