*Jim, Mary and Con Woods.
103 years on from his death, Doolin born Garda Sergeant James Woods was presented with the Scott Medal for Bravery.
Last Friday, the exceptional courage and bravery of James Woods was finally recognised when the Gold Scott Medal was awarded posthumously to him. It is the highest award for bravery which can be bestowed by An Garda Síochána to a member of the service.
On December 3rd 1923, Sergeant James Woods and Garda Patrick Spillane were on duty in Scartaglin Garda Station, Co. Kerry. The Garda Station itself was the property of Jerimiah Lyons and his family who remained living in the house alongside the Gardaí. On that night at around 8.30pm, the Garda Station was attacked by a group of six armed and masked men believed to be local anti-treaty volunteers.
Sergeant Woods and Garda Spillane were both on station duty and unarmed. Garda Spillane was ordered to hand over his uniform. Whilst Garda Spillane was being held at gunpoint the raiders began searching for other Garda members. The masked men went throughout the house, ransacking various rooms. On hearing the commotion Sergeant Woods entered the kitchen area where he was ordered to hand over all of his property, including his uniform. Sergeant Woods refused to hand over his uniform. He was forced at gunpoint to the second storey of the house where he was fatally wounded.
From a family of nine in Doolin, James attended Ballinalackin National School and St Mary’s in Galway. He went to De La Salle College in Waterford to study to become a primary school teacher but subsequently left his post to fight in the War of Independence.
Following the War, James joined An Garda Síochána. As a fluent Irish speaker, he was teaching Gaeilge to the new recruits in The Curragh before he was relocated to Kerry in 1923. He was a well-respected Garda that was considered to have a lot of potential to climb up through the ranks.
Two of his brothers, Michael and Thomas joined the Gardaí at the same time as James with Thomas appointed Deputy Commissioner in 1955.
James’ nephew Con Woods has been researching the story for the past three to four years which played a central role in An Garda Síochána recognising the bravery shown in Scartaglin when the Sergeant placed himself in harm’s way.
Speaking to The Clare Echo, Con said, “as a story it was largely forgotten about and had slipped under the radar”. Once his research and findings were put to Garda authorities, they decided to honour James with the Scott Medal. “It is a very significant moment for the family, we are thrilled that James has finally been recognised for his bravery”.
A former teacher at St Flannan’s College, Con recalled that a major breakthrough in his research was coming across a 240 page file in the National Archive Office. He had also studied the Garda archive and local clippings along with travelling to Kerry to interview locals in Scartaglin. “It happened in 1923 and it was troubled times back then, the State was just set up and his story had fallen through the cracks after The Civil War”.
Newmarket-on-Fergus native Con added, “We were aware of the story growing up, my father spoke about it but it was not discussed hugely. My father was eighteen at the time, he went to Kerry with his mother and Thomas to bring James’ body back to be buried in Doolin”.
