Cork garda who was stabbed during domestic incident receives medal for bravery

A Garda who was repeatedly stabbed during a domestic incident in Co Cork is among a number of officers who have been awarded for their bravery.

Two Cork gardaí were among eight members of An Garda Síochána - deceased, retired and serving - to be presented with Scott medals for bravery on Monday morning.

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”.

The award dates back 100 years to 1924, when US philanthropist Colonel Walter Scott donated to An Garda Síochána a $1,000 gold bond, in perpetuity, to endow a bravery medal, the Walter Scott Medal.

At a ceremony at An Garda Síochána National Bureau Headquarters, Walter Scott House, in Dublin, which was hosted by Garda Commissioner Drew Harris and attended by Justice Minister Helen McEntee, eight Scott medals were awarded.

Among the recipients were Garda Tim McSweeney, who had responded to a domestic incident at a house in Douglas on March 24 in 2022.

Garda McSweeney was told by the female resident of the house that a man who was in the house and in a state of intoxication and agitation would not leave and she was in fear for her safety and that of others in the house.

When the man grabbed a large knife from a kitchen drawer, a violent struggle ensued and the man continued what was described in court as a frenzied attack against Garda McSweeney until the armed support unit arrived.

Despite suffering a number of knife wounds to his arms and an injury to his knee and back when he was dragged to the floor, Garda McSweeney continued to struggle with the man until he managed to restrain him.

A woman who was present in the house that night said in court: “I want to thank Garda Tim McSweeney. I believe he saved my life.” 

Garda McSweeney was awarded the Silver Scott Medal.

He said: “(The man) was intoxicated and he asked to go into the kitchen to get his jacket, and then he did he grabbed a large knife and came at me with the knife.

“I immediately told the woman and children to run. The struggle went on for about five minutes, and I managed to get him on the ground and got the knife off him. I then called for assistance.

“I received stab wounds to my hand and arm and tore my knee.” 

Asked how he was able to retrieve the knife after being stabbed, Garda McSweeney said: “It was fear of him getting the knife off me and what he could do to the woman and children, so that drove me to carry on and every muscle in my body to get him down on the ground and get the knife off him.

“I am deeply honoured to receive the medal, I didn’t realise it was such a big occasion.

“My family are honoured. I am here with my wife, and two girls and my mother and brother. So it is a great family day.”

The Bronze Scott Medal was awarded posthumously to Detective Garda Morgan Lahiffe for his part in foiling an armed robbery in Togher in 1971.

On August 20, 1971, Det Garda Lahiffe and Garda Gerry O’Sullivan responded to the call that three armed raiders had entered the Five Star Supermarket in Togher.

When they entered the supermarket, the two gardaí were confronted at gunpoint and forced to retreat.

The armed raiders got into a car and drove onto Clashduv Road and were pursued by the two gardaí, with Garda O’Sullivan getting out of the car at a phone box to alert headquarters and request assistance.

Detective Lahiffe died in December of last year.

Det Garda Lahiffe’s daughter Avril said: “We are very proud. It is a huge honour to receive this award. To say that it is his second medal is fantastic.

“It’s a very emotional day. He only passed away in December so he was very close to getting it himself.

“It’s a huge honour for him and he enjoyed serving the community.” His widow Jean Lahiffe said: “I am feeling very happy. It is sad he is not here to get it himself.”

The Gold Scott Medal was awarded posthumously to Superintendent John Curtin, who was shot and killed in Friarsfield, Tipperary, on the night of March 21, 1931. He remains the highest ranking serving garda to have been killed by the IRA.

The Gold Scott Medal was awarded posthumously to Detective Sergeant Denis O’Brien, who was shot and killed in his own driveway by IRA men armed with Thompson sub-machine guns in Rathfarnham in Dublin, on September 9 1942.

One gunman was subsequently sentenced to death by hanging.

The Bronze Scott Medal was awarded to Sergeant Niamh Connaughton and Detective Garda Warren Farrell who foiled an armed robbery in an off-licence in Clondalkin, Dublin, on March 27, 2013.

The Bronze Scott Medal was awarded to Inspector Joseph Finnegan and Sergeant Kieran Flynn, who were part of an operation carried out by the Garda Underwater Unit in Belderrig, Co. Mayo, on October 25, 1997.

Three people who had become trapped in a sea cave were successfully rescued, and, proceeding with great difficulty, Garda Finnegan and Garda Flynn recovered the bodies of two men who had died.