Gardai who faced down gunmen and terrorists among those honoured for bravery
Gardai who faced down armed robbers and terrorists as well as those who risked their lives to save others were honoured in a medal ceremony yesterday. Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly and Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan presented the Scott Medals - the highest honour that a garda can receive in Dublin. There were a total of nine awards given to gardaí, some of which were posthumously presented for incidents dating back to the 1920s while others were for conspicuous bravery in more recent years. In 1924 Colonel Walter Scott donated to An Garda Síochána a $1,000 gold bond to be used in bravery medals. The Scott Medal is the highest award that can be bestowed by the Commissioner of An Garda Síochána and is awarded for “most exceptional bravery and heroism involving the risk of life in the execution of duty”. Among those who received a silver medal yesterday are Garda Nigel Murphy and Garda Conor Treacy. They had been dispatched to attend a report of a firearm being discharged at a house in the Dublin West area. When they arrived at the scene, the house was on fire, and they were told that a woman was trapped upstairs inside the house. They were unable to enter via the front door, so Garda Treacy jumped the fence and noticed the upstairs window open and entered the house through the first-floor window, immediately followed by Garda Murphy. They found the woman unresponsive lying on the bed, and managed to get the woman to safety with the help of other gardaí on the scene. After a period in hospital, the woman made a full recovery. Other Scott Medals were given to officers who put their lives on the line by facing down armed robbers in recent years including one garda who was involved in a shootout with the gang of Border Fox, Dessie O’Hare. Although only armed with a revolver Detective Garda Gregory Sheehan opened fire on the gang who had assault rifles allowing kidnap victim, dentist John O’Grady to escape after being held captive for 23 days. On the 9th March 2022, a male carrying a double barrel shotgun attempted to hijack a taxi parked on Mill Street, Dublin 8. Passengers about to enter the taxi witnessed a confrontation between the taxi driver and the gunman, whereupon they called 999 and reported the incident. Garda John Yeates and Garda Jamie Caffrey responded to the call, where on arrival they observed the gunman and the taxi driver on the ground wrestling for control of a shotgun. When the gunman saw the Gardaí approach, he stood up, taking the shotgun and a sports bag and attempted to run from Gardaí. Aware of the immediate risk to life, Garda Caffrey and Garda Yeates pursued the gunman to apprehend him and ensure that he could not harm someone else. As Garda Yeates and Garda Caffrey gave chase, the gunman attempted to throw items over a gate which caused the shotgun barrels to point at the two Gardaí. Fearing for his safety and that of others in the vicinity, Garda Yeates without hesitation, positioned himself on the shotgun, moved it away from the gunman and secured it effectively. Garda Caffrey effected the arrest of the gunman, who was aggressive to such an extent that his apprehension was secured with the assistance of Garda Yeates. Of the nine Scott medals, two gold were awarded posthumously to two officers who gave their lives in the line of duty over a century ago. Unarmed Sergeant Thomas Griffin and his colleague Garda John Alphonsus Murrin were shot dead by a gunman in Carrick on Suir, Co Tipperary in May, 1924 while investigating an attack on another office. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
