Imagine the situation where your son or daughter is halfway around the word and critically ill?
You would hope there would be a support network to help you through this tough time. Step forward An Garda Síochána, and particularly Mountjoy Gardaí.
Mitchell Pettett, the son of Detective Senior Sergeant Bryce Pettett arrived in Dublin at the end of July. Mitchell and his girlfriend had saved up for over a year to travel around Europe for two months and the first stop was Ireland.
On arrival in Ireland he travelled to Dublin City centre but it was not long before he felt very unwell and called into a Doctor’s surgery in the city. He was immediately transferred to the Mater Hospital where he was diagnosed with Leukaemia and admitted to a high dependency ward. His family were notified and made arrangement to come to Ireland.
AGSI Head Office heard of the situation in early August when we were contacted by Kaye Murphy, a Welfare Officer in Melbourne. Before making contact with Bryce directly, AGSI Head Office contacted Inspector Tony Gallagher, a Branch committee member in Dublin North Central.
We quickly realised the situation was well in hand. Tony, Garda Greg McGovern and Garda Gareth Norton had already been in touch with Bryce. They were providing him with every assistance possible.
They continued to meet with Bryce and his son, and their extended family who had joined them, over the course of the month. Without any obligation, other than an understanding of the situation the Pettett’s found themselves in, our colleagues continued to support Mitchell and his family in every way possible.
The Mountjoy Social Committee made a presentation to Bryce. At parading time for Croke Park matches members from across the city contributed money to support Bryce, Mitchell and his family who joined him.
The Liaison Inspector and Gardai arranged for Bryce to get in a Quarter Final and Semi Final football matches in Croke Park to distract him from his worries and when his son was released for a couple of hours one evening they took in a game in Dalymount Park, all arranged by Mountjoy Gardaí.
The generosity of the Gardaí in Mountjoy and the DMR generally was matched by the owner of the Castle Hotel. Without hesitation the owner of the Castle Hotel provided Bryce and his family with free accommodation for the duration of their stay.
Mitchell has made good progress over the past month and on the 1st of September he was sufficiently strong enough to travel back to Australia with his family where he will undergo Phase II of his treatment.
Sgt Tony Gallaghers says, “Bryce and his family were astonished by the generosity of the Gardaí and others while here. They will also bring home memories of a generous Garda who collected €1,000 and an organisation and country who looked after them at a time of need and were generous to a fault.”
The National Executive would like to recognise the efforts made by Inspector Tony Gallagher, Garda Greg McGovern and Garda Gareth Norton, among others, who stepped forward and worked away under the radar to support a police family in need.
Congratulations to one and all for a job well done. To Bryce, and his family we wish you well and to Mitchell we wish you a speedy recovery.
The Pettett’s story was also featured in the Irish Times in an article written by Ronan Smyth, son of Deputy General Secretary, Donal Smyth. Read more here.
