John Martin Cafferky, Garda 17328C, recipient of the

Scott Medal The Walter Scott Medal for Valor is a medal awarded for acts of bravery by the Garda Síochána. It is not a state award, being in the gift of the Garda Commissioner. History The Garda medal was instituted at the behest of Colonel Walter Scott ...

, born 30 July 1947. A native of Keel,

Achill Achill Island (; ) is an island off the west coast of Republic of Ireland, Ireland in the barony (Ireland), historical barony of Burrishoole, County Mayo. It is the largest of the Irish isles and has an area of approximately . Achill had a popu ...

County Mayo County Mayo (; ) is a Counties of Ireland, county in Republic of Ireland, Ireland. In the West Region, Ireland, West of Ireland, in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Connacht, it is named after the village of Mayo, County Mayo, Mayo, now ge ...

, Cafferky was one of a number of Guards who arrived at the scene of a burning terraced house in

Ballyfermot Ballyfermot () is a suburb of Dublin, Republic of Ireland, Ireland. It is located west of the city centre, south of Phoenix Park. It is bordered by Chapelizod on the north, by Bluebell, Dublin, Bluebell on the south, by Inchicore on the east, ...

on 10 September 1972. A number of persons been trapped on the top floor, Cafferky entered though the blaze to effect their rescue. A colleague who accompanied him into the hallway was driven back by the intense heat and thick smoke. Cafferky located an elderly man in a back bedroom and led him to safety. However, one man, an invalid, remained trapped in a front room. Cafferky re-entered and breaking open a window, with the help of Garda Moolick got the man out the window safely. However, Cafferky was himself now trapped and was forced to jump for his life from the blaze. He was awarded the Scott Silver Medal at

Templemore Templemore () is a town in County Tipperary, Ireland. It is a Civil parishes in Ireland, civil parish in the historical Barony (Ireland), barony of Eliogarty. It is part of the Ecclesiastical parish, parish of Templemore, Clonmore and Killea i ...

Training Centre in November 1973. He continued to serve in the

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area, retiring on 20 April 1981.

References

* ''An Garda Siochana and the Scott Medal'', p. 85, Gerard O'Brien,

Four Courts Press Four Courts Press is an independent Irish academic publishing house, with its office at Malpas Street, Dublin 8, Ireland. Founded in 1970 by Michael Adams, who died in February 2009, its early publications were primarily theological, notably ...

, 2008. {{DEFAULTSORT:Cafferky, John Martin Garda Síochána officers Police officers from County Mayo Living people Year of birth missing (living people) Recipients of the Scott Medal