BLACKROCK, IRELAND: Ireland's leaders and thousands of police are attending a state funeral for an officer shot to death by an Irish Republican Army suspect free on bail, a killing that has raised questions about arming police and toughening bail rules.

President Michael D. Higgins, Prime Minister Enda Kenny and police commanders from both parts of Ireland joined 4,000 officers at Thursday's funeral of Tony Golden. Thousands followed the ceremony outside via big-screen televisions.

The 36-year-old Golden was killed Sunday as he tried to protect the female partner of the IRA suspect as she collected her belongings from their home in the border village of Omeath. The man shot both of them and then himself. Golden and the gunman both died. The woman remains in critical condition in a Dublin hospital.