Garda Adrian Martin (46), from Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan, was fishing for mackerel with his six-year-old son Dermot near Doonlicka Castle in Kilkee, Co Clare, last month when the tragedy struck.
The little boy saw his father plunge off the cliff and fall 100ft to his death, during a family holiday in the area.
It's understood that Gda Martin, who was stationed at the Clones Garda station, had tried to free his fishing line after it got snagged on the cliff face. But he reached out too far and lost his balance, plunging about 100 feet to his death.
The shocked boy almost fell off the cliff himself as he looked around for his father in a state of panic - however another angler who was just yards away and witnessed the tragedy raced over to the edge of the cliff and managed to scoop the child up in time.
He immediately raised the alarm and the Coast Guard lifeboat from Kilkee and the Shannon Coast Guard rescue helicopter were dispatched to the area where Gda Martin's body was quickly retrieved.
He was taken to the Kilkee pier where a local doctor and priest were waiting however he was pronounced dead at the scene.
His wife, Helen, who had been staying at a holiday apartment nearby, formally identified her husband. His body was then taken to the Mid Western Regional Hospital in Limerick where a postmortem examination will be carried out.
Last night, Gda Martin's relative, Monaghan County Council member Padraig McNally, said the family was in a state of shock over the tragedy and were en route to Co Clare last night to comfort the little boy and his devastated mother.
Everyone in the area is totally shocked and saddened by the tragedy, he said.
Everyone in the area is totally shocked and saddened by the tragedy, he said.
"It's just terrible, I knew him well. He was a lovely, quiet family man," he added.
Gda Martin's family, including his father Peter and brothers, Stephen, Paul, Justin, and Carl, run a family business and are well known in the area.
Colleagues of Gda Martin, who was stationed at Clones for the past decade, were shocked by the terrible accident.
A colleague said: "We cannot believe this happened to him. He was a great individual and was always very pleasant. We are all shocked by the news, and we extend our deepest sympathy to Adrian's wife and family".
A spokeman for the Irish Coast Guard has issued a warning to all anglers as the Mackerel season approaches. "A lot of part-time anglers surface at this time of year, and are not fully aware of the dangers that the sea can bring" he said. "Some put their own lives and other members of their party at risk by venturing into unknown dangerous areas, without a flotation device and without checking the sea conditions, tides, weather etc. first - for this reason it is also a common time of year for people getting cut off by the tide" he added.
"The quick action of a nearby angler yesterday, prevented a double-tragedy - we would ask all Anglers to be vigilant of their fellow companions and also any other anglers who may be fishing nearby. If you see anyone in difficulty or require assistance, the Coast Guard can be contacted by dialling 999 or 112".
"The quick action of a nearby angler yesterday, prevented a double-tragedy - we would ask all Anglers to be vigilant of their fellow companions and also any other anglers who may be fishing nearby. If you see anyone in difficulty or require assistance, the Coast Guard can be contacted by dialling 999 or 112".
