Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

In 1980, there was an heroic act of courage by a young garda, just out of Templemore, who was stationed at Store Street station in Dublin. This act of heroism should be formally recognised as the important act of bravery it was. This was a young man starting out in his career, like so many gardaí who put their lives at risk for the safety of others on a daily basis.

On 28 January 1980, Garda Jeremiah Coonan, a native of Gortnagoona, Roscrea, County Tipperary, was on traffic duty in Dublin city when he noticed a crowd of people on O'Connell Bridge. As he approached, they shouted to him that there was a person in the river. He immediately ran up to the bridge on Eden Quay and saw a body floating in the water. He gave his coat and radio to a CIÉ inspector who was standing there before wading into the river and swimming to retrieve the man. He was assisted in the rescue by a couple of young men, one of whom got into the water to help in lifting the unconscious man up the steps to safety. Once safely up at street level, Garda Coonan started resuscitation. An ambulance arrived and he and the rescued man were both taken to hospital. Garda Coonan was back in uniform and ready for duty almost immediately.

I wish to draw to the attention of the Garda Commissioner the heroic action by Garda Coonan during the course of this incident resulting in the saving of human life. For some reason, he was never put forward for the Scott medal for valour, which is in the gift of the Commissioner to award. That oversight should be rectified as soon as possible. I intend to write to the Commissioner asking that he conduct a review of the circumstances arising in this incident, particularly those actions displayed by Garda Coonan in the line of duty. While the latter was complimented on his actions by his superintendent at the time, the matter never went any further. His heroic act should be acknowledged. Garda Coonan is a brother of a former Member of this House and the Lower House, Noel Coonan, and a cousin of mine. I want to put that on the record. The incident was covered at the time by the Evening Pressand by RTÉ, a reporter from which happened to be passing by at the time. However, Garda Coonan's actions were never formally acknowledged. Members of his family would like to see that wrong put right. It is my intention to try to locate the other two men involved in this rescue in order that they too might be recognised for their bravery.