Cavan Garda awarded Scott Medal

HONOUR Family of Insp Donegan attend Dublin event

A son of the late Inspector Sam Donegan, who was stationed in Cavan when he was killed by a booby-trap type bomb, has said that the posthumous awarding of a Scott Medal for bravery last week has provided the family with a “sense of closure to this whole terrible saga”.

Insp Donegan’s son, Michael, was only 18 years when his father died, and about to sit his Leaving Certificate exams on that fateful day, June 8, 1972.

He had been enrolled as a boarder at St Patrick’s College in Cavan Town “as was tradition”, and had sat paper one earlier that fateful morning. He’d finished lunch and was readying himself for paper two when a day pupil came up beside Michael and asked how his father was.

A native of Ballintampen, Ballymacormack, Co Longford, Insp Donegan had been leading an operation alongside members of the Irish Defence Forces following a report a suspect device was identified near Leggykelly.

The first was a hoax, but a second was located close by. As Insp Donegan approached to inspect, it exploded. The explosion also seriously injured young member of the Irish Army, Second Lieutenant John Gallagher.

“The event had happened at about half eleven, and my father had been blown up by that time, and the story was all around town,” remembers Michael. “But been those days, with no mobile phones, I was none the wiser, closed off to what was going on in the outside world. [The boy] came into the study room and asked how my father was and I said ‘fine’. ‘Jeez he says, he’s been injured in an explosion over by the border’. The next thing was the president of the college, Fr [Terrence] McManus, came rushing into the room and said ‘whatever you’ve heard, forget it and sit down and do your exam’.”

When Michael finished the paper at 4pm, he was met by two members of An Garda Síochána outside the door and, from there, taken to the old Surgical Hospital in Cavan Town, where Dunnes Stores is today.

Insp Donegan lived for close to 10 hours post-blast before succumbing to his injuries.

Michael remembers it as a “sad moment”, and acknowledges the efforts made in recent years to recognise his father’s contribution, particularly on the 50th anniversary of his death with a plaque unveiling at Cavan Garda Station.

Last week Insp Donegan’s family received one of 11 Scott Medals awarded by Garda Commissioner Drew Harris at the planned ceremony at Walter Scott House (May 26).

He was the only member on the day to have his service recognised with a gold medal.

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’.

Minister for Justice, Simon Harris, was also in attendance.

Michael’s brother John accepted the presentation of the Scott Medal on behalf of Insp Donegan and his family. Present also was Michael himself, sisters Frances and Sheila, as well as members of families of two deceased sisters, the late Kathleen and Maura.

“It was an emotional event,” Michael told The Anglo-Celt. “We always knew our father was a brave, loving, dignified man, but I suppose it was good to see that acknowledged by others, by the State.”

Michael also thanked members of the Garda Síochána Pensioners’ Association, and Chief Superintendent for Cavan-Monaghan, and Louth, Alan McGovern, for assisting in having Insp Donegan’s legacy recognised even if it was 51 years later.

“It has never been forgotten by us, the sadness of it and what happened our lives after, our poor mother. So it was sad, yet satisfying this event happened, and gave some sense of closure to this whole terrible saga,” said Michael.

Speaking to the Celt, Chief Supt McGovern, who delivered a citation at the awarding ceremony, said it was a “long time coming” for Insp Donegan to be honoured in such a way, having made the “ultimate sacrifice” while in the line of duty.

“Well deserved, very well deserved. I know Sam’s family from speaking to them, and I know what this means to them. It won’t take away the pain they feel, but it is due recognition, and something An Garda Síochána can do.”

Chief Supt McGovern highlighted how garda members “put their lives on the line to protect the people of this State, day in and day out”.

Speaking days after a member of a stationed locally was struck at a checkpoint in the Ballinagh area and injured, Supt McGovern stated: “Gardaí, when they leave their house, don’t know what they’re going to encounter. Policing is risky occupation. It is a very rewarding also. So it is important that when we have a member who has given the ultimate sacrifice, we recognise that, and acknowledge their legacy, their families also, that’s what the Scott Medal is all about.”

Seven more members of An Garda Siochana also received Silver Scott Medals on the day.

Three others received Bronze Scott Medals, one posthumously.

Two were presented to Sergeant PJ Gallagher and Garda Thomas McGuiness, who were on anti-crime patrol in Co Sligo on October 7, 1983, when they were overpowered by armed men and bundled at gunpoint into a van and then the boot of a car and driven to Bawnboy. From there, the two gardaí were ordered into a second hijacked car and driven to Kilnaleck, where the car was abandoned.

The third Bronze medal was awarded to the late Detective Garda Sergeant Daniel Kelleher, shot and injured in both legs providing armed cover to other members escorting prominent businessperson Don Tidey during his rescue from armed members of the IRA outside Ballinamore, Co Leitrim, on December 16, 1983.

Twenty three days Mr Tidey’s whereabouts were tracked to Drumcroman Wood, Derradda, where Garda Gary Sheehan from Kingscourt Road, Carrickmacross, posthumously awarded a gold Scott medal for bravery in 2021, and Private Patrick Kelly from Westmeath, were shot and fatally wounded.

Det Gda Kelleher provided armed cover. He was injured when a car approached the scene at high speed from which a number of shots were discharged.