The gardaí who seized two armed raiders at the Goat Grill pub in south Dublin three years ago were today awarded Scott Medals for bravery.
Well-known publican Charlie Chawke was shot in the leg, which was later amputated, and two raiders took €48,000 in cash from him outside the pub in October 2003.
One of the men, Larry Cummins, was jailed for 15 years for his role in the robbery. Another man is still before the courts.
Four Dundrum-based gardaí were passing in a patrol as the robbery was happening. Two of them, Gda Nigel Bourke and Gda Dave Sweeney, ran to the raiders' car.
Gda Bourke grabbed the gunman's clothes and pulled him away from the getaway vehicle. Cummins - a career criminal with 65 convictions, some for armed crime - pointed his gun to Gda Bourke's head and told him to back away.
The getaway car, a red Volkswagen Polo, then sped off. But the two gardaí ran back to the patrol car where their two female colleagues, Det Sgt Michelle Gettings and student Gda Kealan O'Keeffe, were waiting. Det Sgt Gettings was driving and had the car ready to chase the raiders.
A high-speed chase followed across south Dublin with Cummins keeping his shotgun pointed at the chasing gardaí. The raiders were eventually chased to the Stillorgan Heath Estate and caught.
Today Gda Bourke and Gda Sweeney were awarded a Gold Scott Medals. Garda Gettings, now promoted to sergeant, was awarded a Bronze Scott Medal.
Minister of State at the Department of Health Tim O'Malley and Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy presented Scott Medals for bravery to seven members of the force today in the Garda College, Templemore, Co Offaly.
A total of 151 graduation certificates were also presented to gardaí.