Bravery award for slain garda
Golden’s widow accepts honour after murder-suicide tragedy
PRIDE Sgt Diarmuid O’donovan & children Gda Tony Golden died in 2015 THE widow of heroic garda Tony Golden accepted a bravery medal on behalf of her slain husband yesterday.
Mum-of-three Nicola was presented with the Gold Scott award by Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan in a ceremony at the force’s training college.
The officer, 36, was gunned down at a house in Omeath, Co Louth, when responding to a domestic violence call two years ago.
Adrian Crevan Mackin, 24, also shot and seriously wounded his partner Siobhan Phillips before taking his own life.
Gda Gerard O’callaghan, who tried to save Garda Golden’s life, was presented with a Silver Scott medal.
Mr Flanagan also presented five Gold Scott medals to officers blown up in a booby-trap bomb at a house after being told the politician’s father was to be assassinated.
The officers had gone to the aid of the former Defence Minister Oliver J Flanagan at Garryhinch, Portarlington, in 1976. Four out of the five gardai were seriously injured but survived.
The remains of Gda Michael Clerkin were found under the rubble.
TEMPLEMORE YESTERDAY ATROCITY
Survivor Sgt Jim Cannon said: “Michael went in through an open window and, after less than a minute, he went to open the front door to us and the whole building went up.” No one was charged with the atrocity. At Templemore in Co Tipperary, where 211 gardai also graduated, Mr Flanagan said he remembered the attack “as if it were yesterday”.
He added the medal ceremony was “deeply personal” and praised the officers for their “courage and selflessness”. Cork-based Garda Sgt Deborah Marsh received a Silver Scott medal after she was shot at a number of times.
She and Garda Gerard Brassil, who was given the Silver Scott medal, both wrestled with the gunman after they stopped his van in Newport, Co Tipperary, in 2012. Sergeant Dwayne Conlon, who is based in Dundalk, was awarded a Bronze Scott medal for risking his life while tackling an armed man who had entered the grounds of the Dail in 2014.
He said: “I confronted him and in a struggle I disarmed him of the sword and arrested him. He had four serrated kitchen knives in his boots.” Garda Sgt Diarmuid O’donovan also received one of the 17 medals for bravery that were awarded to serving, retired and deceased members of the force, who put themselves in harm’s way protecting others.
He went to open the front door to us & the building went up
SGT JIM CANNON