Commissioner, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Today sees the awarding of a Gold Scott medal for bravery for Detective
Garda Adrian Donohoe.
I am conscious that this is a difficult, yet proud day, for Caroline and
their two children, Amy and Niall, and his friend and colleague Detective
Garda Joseph Ryan.
On the 25th of January 2013, Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was on duty in
his local community, serving that community as he had done on so many days
during his 19 years’ service as a member of An Garda Síochána.
Tragically, however, that day was not to end like the others.
On that evening, when Adrian and his colleague, Detective Garda Joseph
Ryan, arrived at Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan they could not have
known what awaited them.
As we all know, Adrian lost his life defending the community he was so
proud to serve.
Of course, there are no words of mine that could possibly console Adrian’s
wife Caroline, their children and their families and friends in their
terrible loss, but our enduring sympathy is with them.
I know that Adrian’s family will also have the enduring support and
solidarity of the wider Garda family.
I hope that it can always be of some small consolation to Adrian’s family
and friends to know the depth of the esteem and respect that Adrian’s
colleagues and his whole community held for him. That esteem and respect
was shared also by the whole nation when they learned of his qualities and
mourned his death.
I know well the determination of every member of An Garda Siochána to
achieve justice for Adrian. The Government - and the Irish people - will be
unstinting in our support for these efforts.
In his life and in his work, Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe typified the
values that characterise what is best about An Garda Síochána – unstinting
commitment to family, community and country.
Today’s posthumous award of the Scott Medal to Adrian is a recognition of
the exceptional personal bravery, the spirit of determined public service
and the utterly fearless dedication to his fellow citizens and to this
State that sets Gardaí like Adrian Donohoe in a category apart.
Adrian Donohoe is a role model to all members of An Garda Síochána and his
memory is an inspiration to every one of us.
It is also right and fitting that we pay tribute to the bravery displayed
that fateful day by Adrian’s colleague, Detective Garda Joseph Ryan who is
being awarded a Silver Scott medal.
We have three recipients of a Bronze Scott medal today, Sergeant Paul
Johnstone, Garda Liam O'Leary, and Garda Thomas Dalton, and we also
acknowledge their courage in the performance of their duties, again in the
face of criminals seeking to carry out a robbery.
The actions of the nine members who are today receiving the Commissioner’s
Commendation include rescuing a person from the River Liffey and rescuing a
father and his three children from a burning building. They bring home to
us the wide range of circumstances in which members of An Garda Siochána
may be called on to risk their lives. I join with the Commissioner in
commending the members concerned.
As we reflect on your heroic actions many of us will wonder at the source
of your courage and determination to take whatever steps were required to
face down criminals or to save a life, at great personal risk, when you
were called upon to do so. The answer quite simply is, that as a member of
An Garda Síochána, courage comes naturally, it is part of what you are, and
you draw your strength and courage from the people you work with and from
the communities who support you and stand with you.
There is no doubt that it requires courage and personal resolve to serve as
a member of An Garda Síochána. It is a fact that the men and women of An
Garda Síochána, every single day put themselves in harms way in order that
we may go about our lawful business and enjoy the right to live safely in
our communities. On behalf of Government and every citizen I wish to thank
you, and to assure you of our gratitude, respect and support.
Your bravery and courage endures through the gratitude of the people whose
lives and property you took great personal risk to save and protect, and
through the community you serve holding you in such high regard. Your
bravery serves as a beacon to those that follow in your foot steps, and
honours the proud tradition of An Garda Síochána of being the first to
respond without fear for your own safety, to our calls for help when our
safety is threatened.
Your work continues to be as essential today in sustaining our democracy as
it was in the early days of our State.
Thank you.