Detective involved in release of Don Tidey to receive posthumous Scott Medal

The Garda Commissioner will host a ceremony to award deceased, retired and serving members of An Garda Síochána with Scott Medals for bravery at Walter Scott House, Military Road, Dublin 8, on Friday, 26th May.

11 Scott medals will be awarded including:
• 1 Gold Medal (Posthumously)
• 7 Silver Medals
• 3 Bronze Medals (1 Posthumously)

One of the Bronze Scott Medals will be presented to Sergeant Daniel Kelleher (posthumously).

On 24th November 1983, Mr. Don Tidey, a prominent businessperson was abducted in Rathfarnham, Co Dublin, by armed members of the IRA posing as members of An Garda Síochána.

On 16th December 1983, when Mr. Tidey was in his twenty-third day of captivity a large search party of members of An Garda Síochána supported by Irish Army personnel assigned to the 58th battalion, based in Finner Camp, Co Donegal, were undertaking a search of a Drumcroman Wood, Derradda, Ballinamore, Co Leitrim.

The IRA hideout was discovered and Mr. Don Tidey was released from capture.

During the course of the search Garda Gary Sheehan and Private Patrick Kelly were shot, fatally wounded and died at the scene.

Despite the active shooting and in full knowledge of the potential danger, Detective Garda Kelleher provided armed cover to other Garda members who were escorting Mr. Tidey to safety. A car then approached at high speed and a number of shots were discharged by the occupants of the car.  This resulted in Detective Garda Kelleher being shot and injured in both legs.
 
Subsequently, three people were convicted relating to criminal charges arising from their involvement in the abduction of Mr. Tidey.

Among the others to receive Scott Medals are:

Gold Scott Medal: Inspector Samuel Donegan (posthumously), Drumboghanagh Lane, Legakelly, Co Cavan on 8th June, 1972.
Gardaí were operating with the Irish Defence Forces along the Cavan/Fermanagh Border, led by Inspector Sam Donegan.  Information was received that a suspect device had been identified near Legakelly.  Insp Donegan approached the suspect device and was able to determine that it was a hoax.  A short distance away, a second similar device was also located.  As Inspector Donegan approached this device to carry out an assessment, the device exploded.  Inspector Donegan died a short time later from injuries sustained.

Bronze Scott Medal: Sergeant PJ Gallagher, Garda Thomas McGuiness, Aughamore Far, Sligo, 7th October, 1983
Gardaí were on proactive anti-crime patrols in County Sligo when they came across a number of vehicles parked up in a rural layby late at night.  The two Gardaí were overpowered by a number of armed males and ordered at gunpoint to lie face down on the ground.  The members were bundled first into a van and then the boot of a car when they were driven towards Bawnboy, Co Cavan.  There, they were ordered into a second hijacked car and driven to Kilnaleck, Co Cavan where the car was abandoned.  The members successfully released themselves from the boot of the car and raised the alarm.

In 1924 Colonel Walter Scott donated to An Garda Síochána a $1,000 gold bond, in perpetuity, to endow a bravery medal, the Walter Scott Medal, and included the dies from which all Scott medals would be struck.

The Scott Medal is the highest award that can be bestowed by the Commissioner of An Garda Síochána and is awarded for ‘most exceptional bravery and heroism involving the risk of life in the execution of duty’.