Scott Medal

The Walter Scott Medal for Valor is a medal awarded annually for bravery to Garda Síochána police officers. It is not a state award, being in the gift of the commissioner, but the medals are awarded by the Minister for Justice.

It is also the name of a New York City Fire Department medal, endowed by the same Walter Scott in 1920. Recipients of this medal are also awarded $500, donated by the Fire Foundation of New York, an organization established in 1968 by a group of prominent New York City businessmen, friends of the FDNY, in the interest of rewarding Fire Department members who perform acts above and beyond the call of duty.^[1]

History

The Garda medal was instituted at the behest of Colonel Walter Scott, a New York philanthropist who took an interest in policing. In 1923 he gave a one thousand dollar gold Bond which would pay for in perpetuity a gold medal.^[2]

The award was to be presented for under the following condition: No action, however heroic, will merit the award of the Scott medal unless it takes the shape of an act of personal bravery, performed intelligently in the execution of duty at imminent risk to the life of the doer, and armed with full previous knowledge of the risk involved.^[2]

In 1925, Scott presented a further $500 bond to present silver and bronze medals. These medals were for officers who performed similar acts in the execution of duty but with less risk to their lives and who are next in order of merit.^[2]

In 1942, the award condition was amended to most exceptional bravery and heroism involving the risk of life in the execution of duty.^[3]

Design

The medal was designed by John F. Maxwell, a Dublin-based teacher who also designed the Garda Síochána crest.^[3] The medal is a Celtic cross which is 44mm in diameter with five panels on the face. The inscription on the top panel is "The Scott Medal" and on the lower panel "For Valor". On the right and left are the eagle and shield of the United States. and the harp and sunburst of Ireland, respectively. The centerpiece is the Garda Crest with the intertwined letters G.S. for Garda Síochána..^[2]

The reverse is inscribed "Gharda Síochána na h-Éireann". The four outside panels are the arms of the four provinces of Ireland, Ulster, Munster, Leinster and Connaught.^[3]

Notable recipients

• Henry L. Smith
• Deaths of Garda officers (1980)
• Jerry McCabe, awarded posthumously after he was shot and killed during a Provisional Irish Republican Army robbery.^[4]
• Yvonne Burke (Garda)

References