Eight gardaí will today be awarded medals for bravery in the line of duty.
Three of the medals are being awarded posthumously and the eight honours recognise six incidents of bravery that occurred between 1931 to 2022.
The Scott Medal is the highest honour the Garda Commissioner can bestow and is awarded for ‘most exceptional bravery and heroism involving the risk of life in the execution of duty’.
Two gold medals, one silver and five bronze are being awarded this morning.
Superintendent John Curtin – Gold Medal
On March 21st, 1931, Superintendent John Curtin was conducting a late-night inspection of Golden Garda Station, Co. Tipperary – despite being under threat during a time of great uncertainty in Ireland.
In the days prior to his death, he had brought several suspects before the Clonmel Circuit Court in relation to suspected paramilitary activity.
On his return home, he was ambushed by armed gunmen who shot him several times.
He died later that night.
Detective Sergeant Denis O’Brien – Gold Medal
On September 9th, 1942, Detective Sergeant Denis O’Brien was ambushed as he was leaving his home by three IRA men armed with Thompson sub-machine guns ambushed him.
Despite being confronted by gunmen who had the advantage of cover, planning, superior firepower and superior numbers, the detective sergeant was able to draw his gun and discharge several shots.
As he tried to escape he was ambushed by a fourth gunman and was fatally wounded by a shot to the head.
As Detective Sergeant O’Brien attempted to escape the ambush, a fourth gunman appeared and he was fatally wounded by a shot to the head.
One of the gunmen was later arrested, tried, convicted and sentenced to death by hanging.
Garda Timothy McSweeney – Silver medal
On March 24th, 2022, Garda Timothy McSweeney responded to a domestic incident call at a house in Douglas, Cork where a woman was in fear for her safety and that of her children.
He spoke to a man in the house who was intoxicated and in an agitated state.
After the man picked up a large knife in the kitchen and held it up in a threatening manner, Garda McSweeney instinctively grabbed his wrist in a bid to disarm him.
Garda McSweeney then became locked in a violent struggle with the man during which he suffered several knife wounds to his arms and an injury to his knee and back.
The struggle went on for some time until Garda McSweeney eventually managed to get the male onto the ground, draw his baton and restrain him.
Garda Morgan Lahiffe – Bronze Medal
On August 20th, 1971, Garda Morgan Lahiffe and Garda Gerry O’Sullivan responded to an armed robbery at the Five Star Supermarket in Togher, Cork City.
When they entered the supermarket, a masked raider ran towards Garda Lahiffe and Garda O’Sullivan, pointing his gun at them and ordered them to get out of the shop.
The gardaí refused until a second gunman came at them from the side, forcing them to retreat.
The gunmen again threatened the gardaí at gunpoint as they escaped the shop; however, the gardaí pursued them and managed to make it to a phone box to call in the robbery.
The raiders were later arrested.
Garda Niamh Connaughton and Garda Warren Farrell – Bronze Medal
On March 27th, 2013, Garda Niamh Connaughton and Garda Warren Farrell were on car patrol on the Ninth Lock Road in Clondalkin in Dublin when they saw two men with their hoods up and faces concealed getting out of a car and running into an off-licence.
When the gardaí pulled up outside the shop, they saw one of the men on top of the counter trying to prise open the till with a screwdriver while another appeared to be threatening a female staff member at gunpoint.
When they entered the shop, the men attempted to flee.
Both gardaí blocked the main entrance while the man with the handgun pointed his gun at them.
A struggle ensued and Garda Farrell attempted to apprehend the man armed with the screwdriver while Garda Connaughton used her pepper spray on the man with the handgun, who grabbed hold of a customer and used him as a shield.
Garda Connaughton was violently assaulted while trying to arrest the man with the gun; however, both gardaí eventually managed to disarm and arrest him.
The other armed robber managed to escape but was later arrested.
Garda Joseph Finnegan and Garda Kieran Flynn – Bronze Medal
In October 1997, a group of people became trapped in a sea cave near Lady’s Bay in Belderrig, County Mayo.
The Garda Underwater Unit assisted with the nighttime rescue in extremely dangerous weather and sea conditions.
The team rescued three people despite the waves surging the full length of the cave.
The following morning, conditions had deteriorated further with 15 and 20-foot waves crashing into the cave.
Despite the dangerous conditions Garda Finnegan and Garda Flynn entered the water with a tow rope and large floating fenders.
On the rocks at the back of the cave, they found the bodies of two men. They secured the bodies to a tow rope and buoyed them using floating fenders.
The “difficult and dangerous” rescue operation took almost an hour and a half and called for seamanship, coordination and bravery of the highest order.
