 He was scheduled to be transferred to Newtownards the month following his death and his Garda counterpart in Dundalk, Superintendent Pat Tierney, testified to the Smithwick Tribunal he was in a joyous mood on the day he was killed because of the news of his transfer.He was married to Catherine, by whom he had a son, William, and a daughter, Heather and at time of his death he had two grandsons, Andrew and Robert.Buchanan was much liked by the Gardaí with whom he established a good and effective working relationship.