Roll of Honor
Incident
Constable Downing died nineteen hours after being fatally wounded while walking his beat at 2:00am when he was shot by one of three men as he crossed the street near Christchurch Cathedral, in the historic Liberties area of Dublin.
He had, earlier, swapped his shift to that night at the request of a colleague who had a date.
Michael, who was originally from a farming family on the Beara Peninsula, was described as being ‘well liked and inoffensive’.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-GB-DMP-B1DE07DF- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 8, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Michael. Claim this record.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Constable Downing served with the Dublin Metropolitan Police.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Constable Downing.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Constable Michael Downing is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In L, 592 of 749 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 79% of this state's fallen. That is 24.8 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Dublin Metropolitan Police, 20 of 34 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 58.8% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Michael Downing's cause is highlighted.
How Michael Downing Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Michael Downing is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.
Others Who Wore This Badge
33 officers from Dublin Metropolitan Police are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
