Martin Donnellan

Martin Donnellan , Garda Síochána Detective Sergeant 17179D and recipient of the Scott Medal, born 1948.

Donnellan was born at Ballymoe, County Galway, on 7 June 1948. He had been a cabinet maker prior to joining the force.

Stillorgan bank raid

Donnellan was one of six Gardaí awarded the Scott Medal in recognition of their actions on 30 December 1980.

Four heavily armed men robbed a bank at Stillorgan Shopping Centre, Dublin, escaping to a van, driven by a fifth man, with £102,000. Off-duty Gardaí Keeley made an effort to note the van's registration but was fired upon. He returned fire. With most of south Dublin's mobile units in pursuit, the high-speed chase "ended dramatically at Carrickmines Cross."

"The raiders, realizing that their aged van was never going to outdistance the powerful Garda patrol car, stopped out of sight of the pursuing detectives [Daly and Curran] and set up a hastily-prepared ambush. Their car was savagely raked with bullets and both men severely injured. The robbers then continued in their flight."

Abandoning the van and hi-jacking a car, they made their way into the Dublin Mountions where they crashed the car. As they hijacked another car, they were discovered by Detective Doyle, who was joined by Donnellan and Brennan.

"Realizing that the raiders could scarcely head back towards Dublin, the three detectives used their cars to block the narrow road. The robbers in their stolen Datsun appeared within seconds and stopped a few yards from the improvised roadblock. The three detectives took cover, Doyle pointing his pistol while Donnellan and Brennan pointed cupped hands to give the impression that they were also armed. Panic now seized the raiders. In a frenzied attempt to reverse out of the situation they slid into a drain and overturned. They then tried to escape on foot as the intrepid detectives closed in, Doyle firing first a warning shot over the raiders' heads and firing again when it seemed that fire might be returned. One raider was wounded and two others then gave up the struggle. The remaining two made good their escape."

See also

• Domnallan mac Maelbrigdi, from whom the surname Donnellan derives.
• Brian Connaughton
• Joseph Scott
• Deaths of Garda officers (1980)
• Michael J. Reynolds
• Jerry McCabe
• Yvonne Burke (Garda)

Reference

• An Garda Síochána and the Scott Medal, p. 105, Gerard O'Brien, Four Courts Press, 2008. ISBN 978 1 84682 124 0

Persondata
Name	Donnellan, Martin
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Date of birth	7 June 1948
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