Cork town honours garda who was stabbed while attending domestic violence incident
Garda Timothy McSweeney was honoured for his heroism while responding alone to a domestic incident in Douglas in March 2022, where a woman was in fear for her life, and for the lives of her children. Picture: Stephen Collins /Collins
A brave garda who suffered multiple stab wounds while responding to a domestic incident in Cork has been honoured by his community.
Garda Timothy McSweeney, who was previously awarded the Scott medal for bravery, was named the Blarney Person of the Year for 2024 at a gala function in the Castle Hotel in the village.
Garda McSweeney was honoured for his heroism while responding alone to a domestic incident in Douglas in March 2022, where a woman was in fear for her life, and for the lives of her children.
When he entered the house, he encountered a drunken male assailant in an agitated state, who made his way to the kitchen, grabbed a large knife, and lunged at him.
Garda McSweeney told the woman and children to run, and then grabbed the man’s wrist in a bid to disarm him.
A violent struggle ensued during which the garda suffered knife wounds to his arms, and an injury to his knee and back.
The man continued to resist and made threats to kill the garda, who despite his injuries, eventually managed to get him onto the ground, drew his baton and restrained him.
“The struggle went on for about five minutes, and I managed to get him on the ground and got the knife off him," Garda McSweeney said.
"I then called for assistance. I received stab wounds to my hand and arm and tore my knee.”
Justice Minister Helen McEntee told the Scott medal ceremony last September this incident brings home the stark risks of a career as a garda.
The organisers of the Blarney Person of the Year awards, solicitor John Henchion, businesswoman Kate Durrant, and local Fine Gael Cllr Damian Boylan, said they also wanted to honour the garda’s selfless act.
Ms Durrant said in a world that seems to thrive on negativity and finding flaw, it was lovely to be in a room full of positivity and people who through their actions, remind us of all that is good and right with the world.
“People who put others first, who care about their neighbours, their community, and those they have never met on the other side of the world. People who make the world a better place,” she said.
Cllr Damian Boylan, who helped MC the event, said the awards shone a light on the talents and hard work of people who work tirelessly under the cloak of invisibility, with humility and for the common good.
Brother and sister John Mitchell and Bernice O’Brien were also inaugurated into the Blarney Hall of Fame in recognition of their work building schools, teachers’ quarters, and providing thousands of educational scholarships in Africa since 2010.
Garda McSweeney was chosen as the overall winner from the list of last year's monthly winner.
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