Bravery of Kidare Garda noted by Garda Commissioner

A Kildare Garda and his colleague from Laois were singled out for praise by Garda Commissioner Drew Harris. 

The pair were honoured for their bravery at an awards ceremony in Dublin last November. 

In the Garda Commissioner’s latest Monthly Report to the Policing Authority Published in late December, Commissioner Harris noted their awards and those given to two other gardai.  

"Bravery by Gardaí in different circumstances was also recognised this month at the National Bravery Awards. Garda Shane Smyth (Kildare) and Garda Padraig Marum (Laois) were involved in the rescue of a man from a burning car shortly after midnight on 7 September 2019, near Kill East in Co Kildare.  They were each awarded a Silver Medal and Certificate of Bravery,” Commissioner Harris stated in his monthly message. 

The Gardai were among 26 people honoured at the National Bravery Awards in Farmleigh House in the Phoenix Park in Dublin in November. 

Garda Marum and Garda Smyth rescued the man from a burning car which exploded moments later. 

“Shortly after midnight on the 7th of September 2019, Garda Shane Smyth and Garda Padraig Marum arrived at the scene of a high speed car crash, near Kill East in Co. Kildare. The car had crashed into a large stone wall and was on fire. As the car was pinned in between trees, the driver was trapped inside. Both Gardaí ran to the burning car as the driver was shouting for help but were unable to open the driver’s door which was pinned closed by the tree. Garda Smyth broke the driver’s window to get into the car so that they could pull out the driver but couldn’t get to him,” the Bravery Award citation noted.

“The Gardaí then ran to the passenger's side of the car and crawled in between the stone wall and the burning car to rescue the driver. Having freed him, they crawled back out, dragging him to a safe distance behind a Garda Van. Minutes later the car exploded,” the citation at the awards stated. 

Commissioner Harris also mentioned two other Gardai who were honoured at the awards. 

“Meanwhile, Garda Caitríona Munnelly (Mayo) and Sergeant Brendan O’Toole (Meath) were similarly commended for their efforts to apprehend a male and the search of a house on fire near Ballivor, Co. Meath. For their actions, both Gardaí were awarded a Bronze Medal and a Certificate of Bravery,” wrote Commissioner Harris.