Tributes paid to retiring Supt Tom Murphy of Oughterard Garda Station

Presentations were made recently to Supt. Tom Murphy of Oughterard Garda Station at a dinner in Oughterard Golf Club on the occasion of his retirement after 39 years service with the Garda. Supt. Murphy (seated centre) and his wife Imelda are pictured with Supt. Denis O’Connor, Galway (seated) and standing from left are colleagues Garda Michael Heaney, Sgt. Joe Boyce, Margaret O’Connor (Garda Office Oughterard), Sgt. Martin Lally and Garda Michael Folan.

Glowing tributes were paid to Superintendent Tom Murphy on his retirement recently from his post in the Oughterard Division where he had been for the past three years.
It was obvious from the tributes paid to him on his last day in Derrynea Count and again at a special function held for him in Oughterand Golf Club that he was held in the highest esteem and was a very popular member of the Garda Siochana
Supt. Murphy spent a total of 39 yours in the service of the Garda Siochana and before he came to Oughterard he was based at the Garda Training College in Templemore, which was represented at the retirement dinner by Supt. Kevin Ludden.
Judge John Garavan, speaking at Supt. Murphy’s last appearance at Derrynea Court described his as” most courteous man” who had distinguished himself during his career.
“He is a big man who is clearly at case with himself. He has a quite voice and a gentle manner. I have never heard him raise his voice to a witness in the six years I have seen him in Court.
“He has given splendid example to not only Gardai but other Superintendent about how to go about their business. He has retained the respect and integrity of everyone and we wish him the best for his retirement,” said Judge Garavan,
Supt. Murphy was described by Mr. Henry Comerford, a solicitor, as “a friend, a counsellor and unique man.” He had never met a fairer man in Court
The Superintendent has been described as humane, said to have a great sense of humour with of love of golf and antiques, activities which he will now be in a position to take up full-time
He joined the Gardai in 1954 and spent the first ten years in Longford before he moved to Tipperary where he stayed for 23 years, 15 of those in the Garda Training College in Templemore. He was an Inspector in Nenagh for eight years before he came to Clifden and finally Oughterard.
Many others paid trim to the Superintendent at a special function in his honour and they included Superintendent Denis O’Connor, who made the presentation to him on behalf of the Divisional Force, Inspector Pa Forde, Sergeant Joe Boyce and District Clerk, Michael Folan from Oughterard, Sgt. Kevin Duffy and Supt. Michael Needham on behalf the Superintendent Representative Body.
Others who had kind words for the retiring Superintendent were Vice Captain of Oughterard Golf Club, Pascal McDonagh and Fr Ralph Lawless from the Superintendent’s former parish.