The son of a Roscommon Garda shot in the line of duty over 50 years ago has paid tribute to first responders at a remembrance ceremony today.
On the morning of the 3rd of April 1970, Garda Richard (Dick) Fallon responded to a raid alert at the Royal Irish Bank on Arran Quay with colleagues, Garda Paul Firth and Garda Patrick Hunter, from
Mountjoy Garda Station.
Garda Fallon was shot and killed at close range by the armed raiders as he attempted to apprehend them.
The Kilrooskey native was posthumously awarded a Gold Scott Medal, An Garda Síochána highest award for bravery.
On the 3rd April 1970, Garda Richard Fallon was killed while attempting to apprehend armed raiders at the then Royal Irish Bank. Today the Garda Commissioner along with the Fallon Family paid tribute to Garda Fallon with the laying of a wreath at his memorial plaque on Arran Quay pic.twitter.com/V3YRQeYx3n
— Garda Info (@gardainfo) September 9, 2022
An event to mark the 50th anniversary of the murder took place this morning hosted by Garda Síochána Retired Members Association with Commissioner Drew Harris and the Garda Band in attendance.
Garda Fallon's son Finian attended the ceremony this morning where he highlighted the challenges faced by first responders.
Speaking to Let's Talk today, he say's he's constantly amazed by the bravery shown by Gardaí, ambulance crews and the fire service.
The healing never ends in some sense.
I work as a psychotherapist so I work with first responders a lot of the time.
I was saying during my talk today that I'm always amazed by the things we ask our first responders to do.
They are extraordinary things that they do on our behalf.
Some people would find them unbearable the things first responders including the Gardaí, fire service and ambulance crews have to do.
It can have a devastating effect in some of their lives, but they are so resilient and brave on a day to day basis.
