Garda union president opens up about struggle with his sexuality

Mark Omeara, president of the GRA (Garda Representatives Association), encourages others to take pride in their sexuality.

O’Meara is in the middle of a two-year term as chairman of over 11,000 powerful unions, and was opened up about the previous marriage and the process that appears in interviews with him. Garda Review (as reported by Cork Beo))

In an interview, the official publication of Garda Siochana, the Irish national police and security service, Omeara said, “You are yourself, be proud of your sexuality and don’t be embarrassed about it.”

The union president told GRA Communications Director De Gibson that despite having been married to a woman with two children, for him I married two children when I knew that I had to stay faithful to myself and those around me.

His marriage ended in 2014, and Garda explained: “Things began to become fragmented over time and marriage began to suffer. We made the difficult decision to separate, and at that point I thought I had to leave.

“We tried counseling, but it didn’t work, so we sat down and had a conversation together, I was honest and then came out to her and then my mid- and late-teens kids.

“It was the hardest part, but the funny thing is that what hurt them the most was the news of the marriage breakdown.

Omeara, based in Tipperary, a town in the southeastern part of Limerick in the Republic of Ireland, explained that while in an influential position as union president, he felt that he had become “strong” in his sexuality.

“I want to embrace my experience as a gay man within Angarda Siochana and encourage others to probably know that it is okay to be open and honest about who they are.

“If I hadn’t spoken, I felt dishonest to my colleagues who would feel the same way and who were afraid of becoming the person I wanted to be.

“I just wanted to be open and honest, and if this interview helps one member of GRA and, in fact, members of An Garda Síochána, it would be worth sharing my story and my experience working as a gay man.”

Omeara, who married her husband Rory in 2018, said at a ceremony where his ex-wife and children attended, “I’ve hidden my sexuality for most of my life, so I think now I’m sure how open and honest the difficult times of my life are and that I’m definitely afraid that many other gay people will come out, and that many other gay people who may undermine mental health will do so.

“In my case, it’s not the real you, the complete you, that will affect my ex-wife and our relationship with our two children.”

Omeara added that he “never witnessed homophobic or machoist attitudes.” [in the Garda]”And they were “very supportive.”

This year, Ireland celebrated 10 years since marriage equality was passed domestically. 62% of the people who voted in favor of amending the constitution voted Same-sex couples allowed Right to get married in 2015.

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