Hero Garda relives terror attack as he receives Scott medal for bravery

Tears were shed at the Garda College in Templemore last week when the bravery of a County Galway Garda who narrowly escaped death, after sustaining multiple stab wounds on duty, was acknowledged with the awarding of a Scott medal.

Carnmore native David Comer was serving in Dublin when he was called to the scene of an aggravated burglary in Raheny which was to leave him fighting for his life after he was stabbed repeatedly in July 2005.

The incident was to lead to a change in Garda practices with the issuing of stab vests to all members of the force following a vigorous campaign by rank-and-file members of the force, led by Garda Representative Association chief Dermot O’Donnell.

Garda Comer and his colleague, Garda James Hendrick, were based in Howth at the time. They responded to a call that a burglary was taking place in Main Street, Raheny, on July 13, 2005, and entered a house in which three Chinese people had been tied up by raiders.

The Carnmore man, who had been a serving officer since September 1996, went to check upstairs when he was attacked by a male suspect wearing a balaclava, dark clothing, and brandishing a knife.

He called out for help and, while Garda Hendrick climbed the stairs, Garda Comer was repeatedly stabbed in the back, buttocks, and rib cage.

Read the full story in this week's Connacht Tribune.