Michael Noel Canavan

Michael Noel Canavan , Garda Síochána 21578C and recipient of the Scott Medal, born 1958.

Background

Canavan was a native of Tuam, County Galway, and joined the force in 1978. He was awarded the Scott Medal in recognition of his valour in the arrest of Sean "Bap" Hughes of the INLA, on 16 May 1997.

Incident at Foxford

Canavan was off duty when he observed a man acting enter the Bank of Ireland, following which there was a shotgun blast, after which bank customers fled the building. Pausing only to open a pub door asking the owner to call the guards, Canavan turned back to find the robber running towards a parked car, where he caught him. The robber threatened the life of Canavan, reached into his pocket but was grabbed at the wrist. During the violent struggle the robber entered the car, and grabbing a shotgun on the back seat, aimed it at Canavan, who pushed the barrel upwards and eventually subdued the suspect.

It was later determined that the robber did indeed have a pistol in his pocket and a live round in the shotgun.

The robber was identified as Sean "Bap" Hughes of the INLA, who was wanted in connection with the disappearance of Seamus Ruddy near Paris in 1985, and the murder of Garda Patrick Gerard Reynolds in Dublin in 1982. Hughes was acquitted on the charge of murder but imprisoned on the charge of robbery.

Minister of Justice, John O'Donoghue, awarded Canavan the Scott Medal at Templemore on 23 July 2003.

See also

• Brian Connaughton
• Michael J. Reynolds
• Deaths of Garda officers (1980)
• Patrick Gerard Reynolds
• Jerry McCabe
• Yvonne Burke (Garda)
• Garda ar Lár

Reference

• An Garda Síochána and the Scott Medal, p.179, Gerard O'Brien, Four Courts Press, 2008. ISBN 978 1 84682 124 0
• http://www.rte.ie/tv/gardaarlar/09prog3.html
• http://www.irishecho.com/search/searchstory.cfm?id=6542&issueid=131
• http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/705850.stm

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Name	Canavan, Michael Noel
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Date of birth	1958
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