Commissioner attends Civic Reception for An Garda Síochána

Cavan County Council marked the 100th anniversary of An Garda Síochána in Cavan with a civic reception at the courthouse on Monday afternoon.

The event was attended by Garda Commissioner Drew Harris; Chief Superintendant for the Cavan-Monaghan Garda Division, Alan McGovern; former Cavan Garda Superintendent and newly-appointed Chief Superintendent of the Garda National Community Engagement Bureau, Padraic Jones.

The event was also attended by senior ranking officers attached to Cavan Garda Station; local Oireachtas members; Judge Cormac Dunne; councillors; and Mark Leydon, Governor of Loughan House.

Addressing the Civic Reception held in the Council Chamber, Cathaoirleach John Paul Feeley described the formation of An Garda Síochána as a “seminal event” in Irish history.

“The decision to form an essentially unarmed police force, to operate on the basis of the consent of the people was a sea change,” from what he said was the “coercive and paramilitary” nature of the RIC before it.

The formation of An Garda Síochána was done, he said, in a hurry to “fill the vacuum and start the process of normalisation” after the War of Independence.

The first commissioner, Michael Staines, realised it was not appropriate to be both Commissioner and a TD and resigned within months. It marked, Cllr Feeley said, an “important distinction” between political supervision of the police force and direct day-to-day involvement.

In his speech Cllr Feeley noted the execution of Erskine Childers while awaiting an appeal against a court martial on November 24, 1922, 100 years next Thursday. He remembered too the centenary anniversary last week of the executions of Peter Cassidy, James Fisher, John Gaffney and Richard Twohig occurred, by firing squad at Kilmainham Goal.

“These were brave and idealistic young men executed at a time when the government were asking similarly idealistic and brave young men to join the new police force.

“Those early months and years were a terrible time in our country but I believe that the creation of An Garda Síochána is one of the legacies of those years of which we can all take collective pride.”

Like any organisation there had been many reforms over the years such as the establishment of the policing authority and the Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission.

Continuing, Cllr Feeley said that the “challenges” faced by gardaí on duty in Cavan today are “very different to those of 50 or 100 years ago”, and he referenced the “brutal attack” on two members of the force in Ballyfermot earlier this week as an example of that.

He thanked Commissioner Harris for his attendance, before reading out a roll of men stationed in this Garda Division who have died in the line of duty.

Michael Walsh in 1942 and Inspector Sam Donegan in 1972 were both murdered. Garda Thomas O’Driscoll meanwhile died in a car accident in 1958.

Others include Sergeant Patrick J. Morrissey, a native of Belturbet was murdered in 1985; and more recently, Det Garda Adrian Donohoe from Kilnaleck whilst serving in Co Louth.

“We rightly remember those brave men. We think of heroic acts of many gardaí as recognised by those who have been awarded the Scott Medal over the years. We rightly acknowledge those who have led and been involved in the big operations, taking on subversives or criminal organisations.”

Cllr Feeley concluded by acknowledging the work of gardaí on the ground in protecting our community.

"I want to acknowledge that quiet dignified service, which has done so much to build up communities, to divert people off the wrong road, to give people a sense of reassurance in times of difficulty,” he said.

During his visit to the Division, Commissioner Harris attended Cavan Garda Station where he made a number of presentations to local officers.

Among those he met was Dave Gallagher, a Donegal native now living in Dublin, who was attending the Donegal v Armagh game in Clones last June when he suffered a heart attack and went into cardiac arrest.

Garda Martina McMahon and Reserve Garda Liam Stewart began resuscitation with the assistance of the local Civil Defence. By the time the National Ambulance Service arrived to provide advanced care, Dave's heart was beating again.

Commissioner Drew Harris acknowledged the work done by Garda McMahon and Reserve Garda Stewart.

The Commissioner then travelled to Bailieborough where be visited the site of the new proposed District Headquarters.