Young Irish cop upstages hero dad with brave rescue

When Garda Mark Byrne left Templemore nearly 20 years ago with his young daughter, Caragh, proudly wearing his cap, little did he know she’d follow him onto the beat.

Now Caragh, based at Anglesea Street Garda Station in Cork City, has upstaged her hero dad on her first day on the job as she helped rescue a man who had fallen into the River Lee.

A note from the gardaí in Cork said that after Garda Byrne finished his training in 2007, "he could hardly imagine he would be getting his picture taken with his daughter as a trainee garda on St. Patrick’s Day.

"This is obviously a very proud moment for us, her family. It’s a very proud day as well for members of An Garda Síochána," he said.

Asked if her father was her inspiration, Caragh had no hesitation in confirming that he was.

"It was always watching my dad. I remember from when I was younger when he’d come home I’d always ask him questions and he’d say what he could and I was obviously so interested in it."

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Garda Mark Byrne at Templemore with little Caragh in 2007.

"I want to be a member of the Garda Síochána"

She knew at the start of last year that policing was the career she wanted.

"I just woke up one morning and I was like 'I want to be a member of An Garda Síochána' and then the application came out in February and I applied straight away."

Earlier this month, Caragh was out on the beat along the River Lee in Cork city with her mentor officer, Garda Darren Ronan, when they spotted a man in the river "clearly in distress."

They immediately sprang into action. Trainee Byrne reported the emergency to colleagues on her radio and sought the support of the emergency services, while Garda Ronan ran to grab a life buoy.

They both went to the rescue of the man who was struggling in the water. Caragh said, "I was actually one of those members helping the male.

"My tutor guard, we were out walking the streets and we just.. It was a positive outcome anyway."

Mark added, "It just shows what we come across on a daily basis."

The rescue was witnessed by the Lord Mayor of Cork, Dan Boyle, from his office overlooking the scene, and he has let the officers know how proud he is of them.

* This article was originally published on Extra.ie.