Medals for gardaí who put lives on line

Bravery awards: gardaí took on armed robbers

THREE MEMBERS of An Garda Síochána have been awarded Scott medals for acts of bravery during which they put their lives at risk while tackling armed criminals.

The three bronze medals were presented yesterday by Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern at a passing-out ceremony of 273 newly qualified gardaí at the Garda College, Templemore, Co Tipperary.

Garda Patrick Kavanagh and Garda Stephen Foley, both of Store St Garda station in Dublin’s north inner city, were awarded medals for their actions during an incident while on patrol in 2002.

At 1am on April 21st they were alerted to an armed robbery in progress at The Strand House pub, North Strand, Dublin.

When they arrived at the scene in their car they saw a vehicle carrying two raiders – one armed with a shotgun and one with a knife – speeding from a laneway beside the pub.

The two gardaí chased the raiders’ Honda Civic. However, at a nearby junction the raiders’ car came to a sudden halt and a masked man armed with a shotgun stepped from the vehicle and, shouting at the gardaí in an agitated manner, aimed his gun at them and pulled the trigger.

When the gun failed to discharge the raider got back into his car and was driven from the scene at speed by his accomplice. The two men finally abandoned the car near Spencer Dock and fled on foot in different directions.

Garda Kavanagh chased the driver until he got close enough to identify him. He then went back to the raiders’ vehicle to secure it and the gun as evidence. The raider was later arrested.

Garda Foley chased the gunman through the back gardens of houses at Spencer Dock. The raider ran into one of the houses, chased closely by Garda Foley. The raider hid in an upstairs bedroom while the occupants of the house tried to remove Garda Foley, who resisted. When back-up arrived the raider was arrested upstairs.

Garda Charles Armstrong of Bridewell Garda station in Dublin’s north inner city was also awarded a bronze Scott medal. He was rewarded for his bravery in tackling two raiders armed with knives as they attempted to carry out a robbery.

Details of the foiled robbery in Dublin in September 2006 cannot be disclosed for legal reasons.

A number of other medals were also presented to some of the gardaí who passed out yesterday.

Garda Orla Ambrose, based in Carlow town Garda station, received the Commissioner’s medal, for achieving the highest academic grades in her year.

Garda Siobhan McCarthy, of Cahir Garda station, received the Gary Sheehan medal for the best all-round student.

And Garda Mary McCabe, of Sundrive Road Garda station, received the Templemore Town Council medal for outstanding achievement in and appreciation of the area of social science studies.