First Scott Medal was awarded to Mayo born garda
By Tom Gillespie
THE first Scott Medal for bravery was presented by Colonel Walter Scott, the donor, to Garda James Mulroy, on Monday, August 18, 1924, at what was described as an ‘interesting ceremony’ on the Square at Garda Headquarters, Phoenix Park, Dublin.
Garda James Mulroy, a native of Coolrevane, Straide, left the family farm and joined An Garda Síochána on Friday, May 19, 1922, at the age of 23 years.
He was awarded the Scott Medal for ‘most conspicuous bravery’ in arresting an armed man at Callaghan’s Mills, Broadford, Co. Clare, on Saturday, May 26, 1923.
Garda Mulroy's first posting was to Broadford. In May 1923, he and a colleague, some four miles from the station, were waylaid by two armed robbers.
The gardaí were told to surrender all possessions, including their uniforms. Mulroy refused. He was taken to a deserted laneway to be murdered.
En route he refused to move another step, challenging the robbers to shoot him where he stood.
One of the robbers placed a revolver against his chest and gave him five minutes to change his mind. During that course of time the robber became distracted, and Mulroy was able to overpower him.
The other robber shot him in the shoulder but, as it had been a single-barrel shotgun, he was unable to fire again, and so he began to beat him around the head with the butt of the gun until the stock broke.
It was reported: “Maintaining his hold on the man he had pinned to the ground, Mulroy with his other hand gripped the shotgun barrel. The shotgun-bearer then took to his heels, leaving his colleague in Mulroy's grip. Mulroy was then able to disarm the assailant beneath him.
“At this point Mulroy momentarily lost consciousness. When he recovered he was still clutching the shotgun barrel and the revolver, but his captive had taken the opportunity to flee.
“Mulroy made his way back to Broadford Station, arriving at 5 a.m. As soon as his wounds had been attended to by a local doctor he went immediately with another Guard and managed to arrest one of the two assailants.”
James Mulroy, who had served in the War of Independence, was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in June 1928.
In his later career Garda Mulroy served with the Special Branch in Limerick. He retired on August 16, 1962, after almost 40 years of an exemplary service record.
His achievement was recognised in 1978 at a special dinner during which he presented his medal to the Garda Museum.
The Scott Medal was endowed by New York philanthropist Colonel Walter Scott in January 1924.
Walter Scott was born in Montreal, Canada, in 1861. His family moved to the United States when he was young and Scott spent most of his life working in New York City.
Because of his charitable works he was frequently in contact with the New York City Police who made him an honorary Commissioner. He endowed medals for bravery by policemen in New York City and several other US cities. He also endowed medals for police in Argentina.
The newly appointed Commissioner of An Garda Síochána, General Eoin O’Duffy, met Colonel Scott in 1923 at an international police conference in New York.
Scott offered to provide a medal which would be presented to an officer who ‘especially distinguished himself for valour in the performance of duty’. He specified that the medal, which was of solid gold, should be called the ‘Walter Scott Medal for Valour’.
Mayo has had its own share of tragedies with the shooting dead of John Morley and Henry Byrne at Loughglynn on July 7, 1980, following a bank raid at Ballaghaderreen, among them. Both were natives of Knock. Both men were awarded gold Scott Medals.
Knock had seen its share of occasions, sad and happy. But none matched the moving scenes witnessed at the homecoming of parishioners John Morley and Henry Byrne.
From early morning blue capped gardaí brushed shoulders with braided superiors assembling to say a final farewell to their brave companions.
The funeral had been accorded all the ceremony reserved by the State for great men.
An Taoiseach, Charles Haughey, virtually all the members of the cabinet, and the leader of the opposition, Garrett FitzGerald, headed a host of dignitaries who filed into the huge basilica for the concelebrated Mass.
Leaders of statutory and voluntary organisations were there too. Two former Taoisigh, Jack Lynch and Liam Cosgrave, were among the congregation which packed the church to overflowing.
In front of the high altar rested the tricolour-draped coffins. On each was placed the caps which the dead men wore.
Huddled, comforted by relatives, in the front pews were the bereaved.
Their sorrow knew no bounds. Little hands clasped those of their elders for support.
On the coffin of John Morley lay a single red rose, a poignant gesture by a GAA friend.
They heard the words of consolation delivered by the Archbishop of Tuam, Most Rev. Dr. Joseph Cunane, principal celebrant.
He called for support for the gardaí and an end to violence.
Throughout the ceremony - the Mass was concelebrated by 90 priests including four bishops - hymns were sung by the garda choir. The sun forced weak rays through the grey clouds as the coffins emerged later from the church shoulder high.
The pallbearers slowly moved through a guard of honour of more than 500 gardaí.
A sea of floral tribute was arranged on specially provided Land Rovers and floats for removing to the hillside graveyard. The route was lined with sympathisers as the procession slipped by. It was a memorable day in Knock, but for all the wrong reasons.
It was a far cry from the unbridled exuberance and excitement which gripped the shrine nine months previous when Pope John Paul II was airlifted into the village in October 1979.
The houses which were then gaily decorated and flag decked for the occasion now bore signs of mourning.
Thursday, July 10, 1980, was a day etched in black in the history of Mayo’s most noted community as the nation paid homage to two native sons.