Survivor holds Scott gold medal

DET GARDA Ben O'Sullivan is the holder of a Scott Gold Medal, which he received for exceptional courage and heroism.

The medal was awarded in 1994 for his act of heroism when he disarmed a man pointing a loaded shotgun at passing cars on a Co Limerick road in January 1992.

The man had earlier threatened a taxi driver with the gun. Det Garda O'Sullivan and a colleague arrived on the scene and walked towards the man. At the right moment Det Garda O'Sullivan rushed forward, struck the gunman and overpowered him with the help of his colleague. The safety catch on the loaded shotgun had been taken off.

Del Garda O'Sullivan, like his companion, Del Garda Jerry McCabe, who died in yesterday's attack, is 52 years old. He joined the Garda in 1964 and has been based for over 20 years in Limerick city.

The two men were promoted together to the Special Branch in 1973.

A native of Mourneabbey, Co Cork, Del Garda O'Sullivan is married and the father of four children. His wife, Anne, works as a nurse at Limerick Regional Hospital, where he was treated for his injuries. It is understood she was not on duty yesterday morning, but was called immediately by the hospital when told of his injuries.

The couple's children are John (27), Marianne (23), Evelyn (21) and Aoife (13). The family lives in the Corbally area of Limerick, city.

Det Garda O'Sullivan rowed competitively for St Michael's Rowing Club, Limerick, in the 1960s. He was also a prominent rugby player. A Garda colleague said he was fond of rowing, angling and tug of war contests.

"Ben is a character", said the colleague. "Not a joker, but he always has a yarn or a story to tell."

Another detective said that while the gardai did not work in teams as such, Garda O'Sullivan and Garda McCabe "worked together quite a bit". Del Garda O'Sullivan usually drove the car.

The feeling among detectives at Henry Street station, Limerick, was "more one of sadness than anger, he said. "The attack was savage. It was unnecessary, at a stage when we were supposed to be reaching peace."