Funeral Mass of Martin Ridge to take place today

There is heartfelt sadness, across the county, as people prepare to say farewell to author and former detective garda Martin Ridge as he is laid to rest today.
Mr Ridge was a loving husband, father and grandfather and will be deeply missed by all those in his extended family circle.

Rich legacy
Martin Ridge leaves behind him a rich and extensive legacy that is well documented in the local and national media. Martin Ridge became the voice for survivors of sexual abuse and those who were victims of clerical sex abuse.
Having moved to Donegal as his retirement beckoned, Mr Ridge often joked that he felt that his tenure in Donegal would have been an easy one and he had looked forward to moving here with his wife Bríd and his children Aoife and Clíodhna.

The quest to find truth

However, an easy retirement was not to be - his work in Donegal became the most trying and testing of his entire career within An Garda Síochána. Martin Ridge found himself investigating some of the most harrowing cases of child abuse in parishes across the county.
He and his colleague former detective garda John Dooley found themselves interviewing survivors of abuse under the darkness of night in isolated and often lonely areas. Victims would often call to his home only content to share details with a man who showed compassion and understanding.

Breaking the Silence

The harrowing story of his investigations were captured within the 216-page book Breaking the Silence. Mr Ridge wrote the book in the belief that highlighting the cases, and in outlinging the pain and suffering of victims, that it would break the cycle of silence which allowed, and allows, sex abuse to take place.
The work was widely read throughout the country, and world, and people from countries across the globe wrote to him to relay their heartfelt gratitude.
The book was also the backdrop for hard-hitting documentaries that, once again, cast the spotlight on the subject of clerical abuse sexual abuse in Donegal and dragged it to the fore, ‘The Shame of the Catholic Church’ by hard-hitting investigative reporter Daragh Mac Intyre being one such work.
Mr Ridge, a native Irish speaker, was often on Raidió na Gaeltachta and TG4.
Fittingly, the final documentary that Mr Ridge participated in was produced and directed by Dara Mac an Iomaire, a nephew from Ridges’ his home county of Galway. The retired garda called time and time again for an independent inquiry into child sex abuse in the Raphoe diocese - this has never come to pass. 

Funeral 
Mr Ridge battled with ill health in recent times and he passed away in the Donegal Hospice on Saturday last.
His Funeral Mass will take place in Teach Pobail Chríost an Rí in Gortahork at 12 noon.