Gardaí who oversaw restoration of peace in Limerick honoured
RETIRED crimefighter Gerry Mahon, who oversaw the restoration of peace to Limerick city during a gangland crime wave in the mid-2000s, was one of 17 gardaí honoured for their courage and bravery at a weekend ceremony.
In 1986, Mr Mahon who was then a sergeant, along with Garda Steven Flaherty and Garda Sean Brennan, tackled a man who aimed a loaded shotgun at them.
All three were honoured at a ceremony at Limerick’s Henry Street garda station last Friday night, during a plaque unveiling ceremony to mark receiving their Scott Medals for Bravery, in 1988.
Eleven plaques in total were unveiled at the Limerick station to 17 gardaí who had been awarded medals for courage, bravery, and honour over the years.
Mr Mahon (68), who in 2009 retired as chief superintendent of the Limerick Garda Division, was unarmed and on mobile patrol with Gda Flaherty and Gda Brennan when they responded to the 1986 alert in John Carew Park on the south of Limerick city.
Arriving at the scene they found a man in possession of a shotgun which he turned on the gardaí, but they continued the pursuit.
Plaques were also unveiled to past Scott Medal recipients, Patrick O’Callaghan, Agustine Fox and Padraig Molloy, who saved three children from a burning house at Quinn’s Cottages, Rosbrien, after it was petrol bombed in July 1996.
Also honoured were murdered Det Gda Jerry McCabe and his partner Ben O’Sullivan who were ambushed by an IRA gang in Adare in 1996 while on cash escort duty.
Det Gda McCabe, who received a posthumous Scott Medal, was shot dead in the attack and Det O’Sullivan, who attended Friday night’s ceremony, has been the recipient of two Scott Medals.