Bravery medals awarded to two Carrick-on-Suir based gardaí murdered over 100 years ago

Medals for exceptional bravery have been posthumously awarded to two gardaí who died in the line of duty while investigating the shooting of one of their colleagues in the Carrick-on-Suir district over 100 years ago.

Gold Scott Medals were awarded to the late Sgt. Thomas Griffin and late Garda John Alphonsus Murrin at a ceremony at the Garda Síochána National Bureau Headquarters at Walter Scott House in Dublin.

The two officers, who were based at Carrick-on-Suir Garda Station, were shot on May 6, 1924 while investigating a shooting incident involving a Garda colleague which occurred the previous day at Cregg near Carrick-on-Suir.

Fr Ray Murrin shows the Gold Scott medal and citation awarded posthumously to his late uncle Garda John Alphonsus Murrin

The citation accompanying the bravery medal outlined that after identifying the suspect, the two gardaí made their way to a house in the Carrick-on-Suir sub-district in the full knowledge they were searching for an individual who was in possession of a gun and who had shot at one of their colleagues.

“Sergeant Griffin and Garda Murrin, who were both unarmed, approached the suspect’s house, despite the potential danger.
“Upon arrival at the house, and without warning, an individual opened fire on Sergeant Griffin and Garda Murrin.

“Regrettably on May 7, 1924, Sergeant Griffin lost his fight for life and on October 19, 1924, Garda Murrin lost his fight for life, as a result of fatal injuries they sustained in the line of duty.

“Sergeant Griffin and Garda Murrin placed themselves in harm’s way and displayed outstanding bravery, commitment and professionalism during this incident,” the citation added.

This double tragedy happened just over two years after the creation of An Garda Síochána in February 1922 following the establishment of the Irish Free State.

Relatives of Sergeant Griffin, who was from Greenmount, Cork City, and Garda Murrin, who was from Bruckless in Donegal, accepted the Gold Scott medals awarded posthumously to the two officers at the ceremony hosted by the new Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly and attended by Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan.

At total of nine gold, bronze and silver Scott Medals were awarded to serving, retired and deceased gardaí for acts of bravery in the line of duty at the function on October 24.

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