Scott Medal awarded posthumously to Sgt Donal Kelleher
A garda who was well known and highly regarded when he served as sergeant in Rochfortbridge was honoured posthumously with a Scott Medal at a ceremony in Dublin on Friday.
Detective Garda Donal Kelleher was awarded a bronze medal, and his widow Caroline, daughter Lesley and son Daniel accepted it in his name from Garda Commissioner Drew Harris and Minister for Justice, Simon Harris, TD.
Commissioner Harris hosted the 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 last, May 26.
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’.
Eleven Scott Medals were awarded: one Gold Scott Medal (posthumously); seven Silver Scott Medals; and three Bronze Scott Medals (1 posthumously).
The garda press office provided this information as background on the case of Sgt Kelleher: On November 24, 1983, Don Tidey, a prominent businessperson was abducted in Rathfarnham, County Dublin, by armed members of the IRA posing as members of An Garda Síochána. On December 16, 1983, when Mr Tidey was in his 23rd 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, County Donegal, were undertaking a search of Drumcroman Wood, Derradda Ballinamore, County Leitrim.
‘The IRA hideout was discovered and Mr 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.’
St Joseph’s Secondary School, Rochfortbridge, where Caroline Kelleher works, posted this message on their Facebook page on Friday: ‘We are remembering our good friend Donal Kelleher and we are thinking of his family today as they receive a Scott Medal in his honour for his bravery. As a detective, Donal was seriously injured during rescue of Don Tidey at Derradda Woods in 1983. Today his family will accept this accolade in the company of Don Tidey himself. It doesn’t come as a surprise to anyone who knew Donal that he is being honoured in this way. You would have to travel far and wide to meet a person of his bravery and calibre and he is missed sorely by all who knew him.’