Gardaí awarded for bravery

SEVERAL gardaí have been presented with National Bravery Awards that are given to individuals who risked their own lives to aid others in peril.

Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Fearghaíl TD presented the 20 National Bravery Awards, including one posthumous honour, at a ceremony at Farmleigh House in the Phoenix Park where the recipients came together to receive their Certificates of Bravery.

There were also six Bronze Medals for Bravery awarded, while another six recipients received Silver Medals for Bravery.

The annual honours are awarded by Comhairle na Míre Gaile – the Deeds of Bravery Council – which was founded in 1947 to enable State recognition of exceptional Acts of Bravery.

The Ceann Comhairle said: “It is important to recognise the sacrifices made by people whose selflessness can serve to remind us of our duty of care to one another. It is an honour to present these 20 Bravery Awards today, including the posthumous award, and I thank all recipients for their courage.”

Among those who received awards were Garda David Currivan and Garda Cathal McGeoghan.

Both officers were in a patrol car on the night of November 30, 2015 when they were approached by a member of the public who informed them about a robbery at a local Spar shop on Clogher Road.

Two males had entered the shop wearing balaclavas and armed with a metal bar and a meat cleaver. They robbed the premises and subjected the two employees and a number of members of the public with threats of violence. Money was taken and both suspects then fled the shop, running onto Clogher Road in the direction of Sundrive Road.

When they arrived at the scene, the gardai saw the two men running from the shop. The patrol car pulled up behind the two suspects and Garda McGeoghan called on both suspects to halt.

However, they instead raised their weapons and advanced towards Garda McGeoghan, who was forced to deploy his pepper spray to defend himself. The suspects turned and fled while Garda McGeoghan gave chase on foot.

One was placed under arrest as the second suspect tried to flee the scene and Garda Currivan exited the patrol car and attempted to apprehend him.

The second suspect attempted to strike Garda Currivan with the meat cleaver. He then began to run at Garda McGeoghan in what appeared to be an attempt to free the first suspect who was arrested. Again, Garda McGeoghan was forced deploy his pepper spray to defend himself and to retain custody of the first suspect who he was still attempting to restrain on the ground.

The second subject then broke off his advance and ran towards Clogher Road pursued by Garda Currivan where he scaled a wall at a house on Clogher Road. Garda Currivan tried to follow him, but lost sight of him.

The assistance of the Garda Air Support Unit was soughtand the second suspect was eventually arrested. All monies stolen in the course of the robbery were retrieved.

For their actions, Garda David Currivan and Garda Cathal McGeoghan were each awarded a Bronze Medal and Certificate of Bravery.

Another Garda, Donal Tully, was awarded a Bronze Medal and Certificate of Bravery after an incident on October 3, 2018, when gardaí were contacted by a woman who reported that her daughter had left her house in a distressed state.

Two hours into the search, Garda Tully and another Garda observed a young woman matching the daughter’s description on the beach at White Rock, Killiney.

By the time they reached her location, the young woman had entered the sea. Garda Tully swam a considerable distance out to her, and attempted to rescue her. She struggled and resisted him as he tried to drag her to land. 

Eventually both gardaí were then able to restrain the young woman and pull her to safety before being joined by other gardaí involved in the search.