Late Roscommon Garda honoured with top bravery medal
Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly, Inspector Declan Egan and Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan. Inspector Declan Egan is pictured with a Scott medal, posthumously awarded to his father, Detective Sergeant Michael Egan.
Detective Sergeant Michael Egan, a Roscommon native who passed away last December, has been posthumously awarded the Scott Medal for his exceptional bravery and heroism during an infamous siege in Kildare fifty years ago.
Inspector Declan Egan accepted the medal on behalf of his late father, who hailed from Fairymount, at an awards ceremony in Dublin on Friday, May 22nd.
On October 31st in 1975, Det Sergeant Egan was shot in the hand during a siege by kidnappers at a house in Kildare.
Earlier that month on October 3rd, Dutch businessman Dr Tiede Herrema was abducted from his home in Castletroy, Limerick by members of the Provisional IRA while he was travelling to his place of work.
Two and half weeks later on October 21st, gardaí identified a house in Monasterevin, Co Kildare where Dr Herrema was being held to ransom. Officers forced in the front door as two armed detectives covered the rear of the house. Army snipers took up positions at both the front and the rear of the property.
Detective Garda Daniel Duffin, Detective Garda Thomas King and Detective Sergeant Patrick Sheil entered the hallway, led by Detective Superintendent Edward O’Dea. A shot was fired in their direction and hit the wall beside them. At this point, Dr Herrema pleaded with gardaí not to come upstairs, fearing he would be shot. During the incident, the kidnappers continued to threaten gardaí.
A siege then followed and ten days later on October 31st, Det Sergeant Egan and Det Inspector John Murphy climbed ladders at the rear of the property in order to monitor activity inside the house. Det Sergeant Egan sustained injuries after being shot in his left hand.
The siege lasted 18 days in total until the kidnappers eventually surrendered and Dr Herrema was released.
For the part they also played, Assistant Commissioner Thomas King; Assistant Commissioner Edward O'Dea (posthumously), Chief Supt John Murphy, Det Chief Supt Patrick Sheil, and Sergeant Daniel Duffin (posthumously) also received Scott Medals.
The awards ceremony, which took place at the An Garda Síochána National Bureau Headquarters in Walter Scott House, was told that all the officers involved played a vital role in ensuring the situation was brought to a successful conclusion. Det Sergeant Egan received a Silver Scott Medal while his colleagues received a Bronze Scott Medal.
The Scott Medal is the highest award that can be bestowed by the Garda Commissioner and is awarded for "most exceptional bravery and heroism involving the risk of life in the execution of duty".
Michael Egan, who resided in Enniscrone, passed away on December 26th last. He is survived by his wife Sally, daughters Aisling and Seamus, and sons Declan and Shane.
At last Monday’s plenary meeting of Roscommon County Council, Cathaoirleach Liam Callaghan paid tribute to Mr Egan on receiving the Scott Medal and noted how he was a native of Fairymount in West Roscommon.
