From the archive: Mayo-born garda awarded Bronze Medal for bravery in 1934
By Tom Gillespie
A CASTLEBAR man, Garda Patrick Quinn, Mountgordon, stationed at Mullingar, was the recipient of a Bronze Medal at the Depot on Sunday, August 25, 1935, as a reward for bravery displayed at Balbriggan in October 1934.
Other presentations were: Detective Garda Timothy Mahony (2376), Barrack Street, Waterford, and Garda Laurence O’Neill (5357), Balbriggan.
Silver Medal: Garda John Ellis (462), Bridewell, Cork.
The story of the Balbriggan arrests is as follows:
At 7.45 a.m. on October 20, 1934, there walked into the Garda Station at Balbriggan a man, dressed only in a shirt, trousers and socks, who stated that he was James Finnegan, who had been kidnapped in Dundalk on October 14, and had been missing in the interval.
Soon after Garda Mahony, then stationed in Balbriggan, noticed two strange men outside the barracks in the direction of Dublin.
Gardaí Mahony, Neill and Quinn followed the men in a car and stopped abreast of them.
On seeing the gardaí the strangers put their hands in their pockets as if to draw guns. Gardaí Mahony and O’Neill jumped out of the car and questioned the men, one of whom did motion as if to draw a revolver.
Garda Mahony closed with this man and a fierce struggle followed. Garda Mahony stumbled, the stranger drew a revolver and was about to point it when Mahony jabbed him with his knee in the stomach and the bullet missed.
Garda Quinn grabbed the man’s hand while Garda Mahony threw the stranger to the ground and took him into custody.
Garda O’Neill closed with the other man, who had been pulling at his pocket and eventually drew a fully-loaded Webley. He was also overpowered and taken into custody. Each man had a second revolver and a pair of handcuffs.
Garda Ellis was awarded a silver medal arising out of the disturbance between rival political groups in Drimoleague, Cork, on August 12, 1934. Two men drew guns and fired towards a crowd, which stampeded.
Gardaí advanced on the armed men. Garda Ellis rushed one of them who, from a close range, fired, but missed Ellis, as did the other man. Ellis then threw himself on the man and took him into custody.
On arrival at the Depot, Mr. Patrick Ruttledge, Minister for Justice, who made the presentations, was met by a guard of honour under assistant Commissioner Walsh, Supt. H. Duffy, Adjutant, an Ceannphoirt S. O’Neill, and an Cigar O Collin. The Minister inspected the guard of honour.
The Garda Band, under Supt. D.J. Delaney, played the National Anthem.
Mr. Ruttledge, with whom was Tomas O Deitg, Aire Oideachais, was accompanied to the platform by Col. Broy, who presided.
In making the presentations the minister thanked the generous donor through whose munificence, thoughtfulness and interest in the Force they were enabled each year to make these awards for acts of conspicuous bravery.
Reviewing the circumstances which secured the present awards, the minister said it must be conceded that the awards were well deserved.
While playing a richly-deserved tribute to those brave men, he knew there was probably not a member of the Force but would merit a similar award should the opportunity arise or the occasion demand it.
Recognising themselves as the guardians of the people’s rights, the gardaí had assiduously directed their efforts and service in securing peaceful conditions for the citizens and patrolling their property.
In detecting crime they could claim to be superior to most nations and equal to any, and were experimenting in other scientific methods of crime detection. The splendid discipline and high morals had been well maintained.
In the keeping of every member resided the honour of the gardaí. He knew each garda would guard that honour well.
Col. Broy, speaking in Irish, said: “We have met with such success here that we have planned completely to Gaelieise the Depot headquarters within two years, and to do that as far as possible with the men already here.”
Meanwhile, a Mayo garda had the proud distinction of being presented with the first Scott Medal for bravery, which was made by the donor, Colonel Walter Scott, to Garda James Mulroy on August 18, 1924, at what was described as an ‘interesting ceremony’ on The Square at Garda Headquarters, Phoenix Park, Dublin.
Garda Mulroy, a native of Coolrevand, Straide, joined An Garda Síochána on May 19, 1922, at the age of 23. He was awarded the Scott Medal for ‘most conspicuous bravery’ in arresting an armed man at Callaghan’s Mills, Broadford, Co. Clare, on May 26, 1923.
James Mulroy had served in the War of Independence, and was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in June 1928. He retired from An Garda Síochána on August 16, 1962, after almost 40 years, with an exemplary service record.
The first Commissioner of An Garda Siochhána was Newport native Michael Staines, T.D., while the first Civic Guard was Patrick Joseph Kerrigan, who was born on September 12, 1892, at The Fairgreen, Westport.
He joined the Force on February 21, 1922, and to mark the 100th anniversary of that event a plaque was unveiled at the Fairgreen, Westport, in February 2022.