Tipperary garda fatally injured in the face and neck remembered at special ceremony

PICTURED ABOVE: Chief Superintendent Colm O’Sullivan and members of An Garda Síochána, Tipperary, pictured at the unveiling of a plaque to the memory of the late Garda Hugh Ward at Hollyford on Wednesday, November 16. Garda Ward was shot while on duty at Hollyford Garda Station on November 14, 1926 and died from his injuries two days later in St Vincent’s Hospital in Dublin. 

A ceremony to commemorate the memory of the late Garda Hugh Ward, was held in Hollyford, on Wednesday November 16.

Garda Ward was shot while on duty at Hollyford Garda Station in 1926 and died from his injuries two days later in St Vincent’s Hospital in Dublin.

Chief Superintendent Colm O’Sullivan unveiled a plaque to the memory of Garda Ward.

A native of Nobber, county Meath, he joined An Garda Síochána in 1924.

On the night of November 14, 1926 many garda stations were attacked by armed gangs and one of these stations was Hollyford, where Hugh Ward was stationed.

That night Garda Ward and his colleague Garda McTighe were on duty at the station when there was a knock at the front door of the barracks.

Garda Ward answered the door and found himself confronted by three armed men. The first intruder and without warning fired two shots.

Garda Ward was injured in the face and the neck.

The injured garda’s condition was initially thought not to be life threatening and walked unaided from the ambulance to the train in Tipperary Town as he was being conveyed to hospital in Dublin.

Sadly on arrival at the hospital Garda Ward’s condition worsened and he passed away on November 16.

Following a State funeral in Glasnevin Cemetery he was laid to rest in the Nobber.

Members of the Ward family attended and laid a wreath. Speakers included A/Superintendent Brendan Franklin, Tipperary Town District, local historian Dr Des Marnane and Una Crowe, daughter of Rody Crowe, former Hollyford Company Adjutant.

Fr Dan Woods was in attendance to provide a blessing on the occasion and Piper John Moloughney played the National Anthem.

Centenary medals were also presented to serving and retired garda members and garda staff. SEE PAGE 28