Service remembers Sergeant Callanan

A MEMORIAL service was held in Tallaght Garda Station last Sunday, July 21, to mark 25 years since Sergeant Andrew Callanan died in an arson attack in the garda station.

Sgt Callanan died in the early hours of July 21, 1999, after a man entered Tallaght Garda Station and poured petrol over himself.

On seeing this, Sgt Callanan attempted to disarm the man, but the man then aimed the petrol at the garda and set it alight.

Sgt Callanan died from his injuries.

His legacy, however, still lives on as a category of the Tallaght Person of the Year Awards is named after him, and his family and garda colleagues gathered to remember him on Sunday.

Sgt Emer Lamon from Tallaght Garda Station told The Echo: “Family members were in attendance along with members who worked and trained with Sergeant Callanan.

“A wreath laying ceremony took place and three wreaths were laid by Sergeant Callanan’s wife, a former colleague and Deputy Commissioner Coxon.

“Garda Matthew O’Connell from Tallaght Garda Station was the recipient of this year’s Sergeant Andrew Callanan Award.”

Sgt Callanan was born on January 8, 1963, and came from Cathedral Street in Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

On April 13, 1982, he joined An Garda Síochána and on completion of training he was assigned to Tallaght.

A married man with three children, Sgt Callanan was posthumously awarded the Scott Gold Medal on July 6, 2000.