A Limerick-based garda, Det Garda Ben O'Sullivan, has become the first policeman in the history of the State to receive a second gold Scott medal.
He received the award from the Minister for Justice, Mr O'Donoghue, at a ceremony at the Garda College in Templemore, Co Tipperary, yesterday.
The late Det Garda Jerry McCabe, who was with Det Garda O'Sullivan in June 1996 when he was shot by IRA members during an attempted armed raid in Adare, Co Limerick, received the award posthumously.
A posthumous award was also made to Sgt Andrew Callanan, of Tallaght Garda Station, Dublin, who died after attempting to prevent an arson attack on the station in July, 1999.
Det Garda O'Sullivan, who was injured in the IRA attack and still carries bullet shrapnel in his head and body, received his first gold Scott medal in 1994 for arresting a man who was carrying a loaded shotgun in Limerick in January 1991.
He said yesterday that he was saddened that two of his colleagues could not be present to receive the awards but he was happy at the acknowledgement of the contribution made to law enforcement.
Det Garda McCabe's widow, Mrs Anne McCabe, stated that while the award of the Scott medal did not lessen the family's pain at his loss, it did reaffirm the sense of respect in which he was held. "This medal, awarded to so very few members of the force, is something of which we . . . can feel uniquely proud. It is a testament to the enduring nature of our society's regard for the sacrifices that members of the gardai have made," she said.
Mr O'Donoghue said successive generations of gardai had given selfless and brave service. "It is a select group of men and women bound together, during eight decades of service, by a common purpose and a resolute devotion to duty," he said.
The Garda Commissioner, Mr Pat Byrne, said that since 1923, 77 gold medals, 114 silver medals and 163 bronze medals had been awarded to gardai.
The Scott medal is named after Colonel Walter Scott, an honorary commissioner of the New York City Police, who presented the gardai with two bonds, worth a total of $1,500 the interest of which will pay, in perpetuity, for the medals.
At yesterday's ceremony, two silver Scott medals were presented, to Garda Patrick O'Hara and Garda Thomas Lehane, both of Malahide Garda Station, Co Dublin.
Bronze medals were presented to Garda Aidan McGuinness of Sligo Garda Station, Garda John Dollard, of Store Street Garda Station, Dublin, Garda Padraic Powell, of Ballyfermot Garda Station, Dublin, Sgt Michael McConalogue of Mountjoy Garda Station, Dublin, and Garda Laurence Bergin, of Clonmel Garda Station, Co Tipperary.
Mr Byrne presented 37 merit awards and three Safety Representative of the Year awards.