Jack Fadden, KC*HS, who died on Saturday 10th February 2023 in his 85th year, was admitted to the Order in 2009.
Confrère Jack was born in Ballyheane, near Castlebar in County Mayo, one of nine children born to John and Mary Fadden. He grew up there along with his sisters and brothers before going to Templemore in order to enlist in the ranks of An Garda Siochána.
His first appointment was to Ballyconnell, County Cavan and it was there in the year 1960, while on a border checkpoint, that he met his future wife to be Mary Waterson cycling across the border from Teemore to Ballyconnell town. They met a week later at a dance here in Ballyconnell and were married four years later. They were blessed with a family of two girls and six boys.
The Ballyconnell border posting was a difficult and dangerous one throughout his time there and on 8 June 1972 Jack was present when Garda Inspector Sam Donegan was killed by a booby-trap bomb on the border. An oral and written record of the events of this tragic day have been recorded and is available in the archives of Cavan County Library https://www.irishlifeandlore.com/product/jack-fadden-b-1938/
Confrère Jack was a great family man and a great Irishman too, dedicating his life to serving his country as a member of An Garda Siochána. He was a man of integrity and principle, a man of deep faith and prayer. He contributed a great deal to the Church and to his parish community.
He was an active member of the local St Vincent de Paul Society, a Trustee of the Knights of St. Columbanus and a Grand Officer of our Order. Jack was the recipient of the Pilgrim Shell having participated in two Order Pilgrimages in 2016 and 2018. In early November 2022, Jack returned again on pilgrimage to the Holy Land accompanied by two of his children, Yvonne and Raymond.
Confrère Jack had great devotion to Padre Pio and the saint’s words ‘Pray, hope and do not worry’ are already inscribed on the headstone, where Jack was laid to rest alongside his beloved wife Mary.
Suaimhneas sioraí dóibh go léir – May they rise to eternal glory