Gardaí hailed as heroes after rescuing child from sweltering car in Longford

Athlone based Sergeant Bobby Feery, Garda Jennifer Cassells and Student Garda Cathal Kenny had been on their way back from  Longford District Court yesterday when a woman, appearing in difficulty, hailed the trio down.

Upon arriving at the scene and finding that the woman had inadvertently locked her young child, car keys and handbag inside her car, all three together with the aid of a local mechanic managed to prise the vehicle's keys and rescue the toddler.

In a statement carried on its social media channels, a garda spokesperson said the episode, thanks to the intervention of all three officers, had ended safely and with happy faces all round. 

"Three Gardaí travelled from their station in Athlone to Longford on a routine prisoner escort," said a spokesperson.

"On their way back to Athlone they were flagged down by a woman in distress - she had accidentally locked her young child, car keys and handbag inside the car on this very warm day.

"Gardaí made contact with a local mechanic and together, they managed to fish the keys from the handbag locked inside and then bring the child to safety.

"Sergeant Bobby Feery, Garda Jennifer Cassells and Student Garda Cathal Kenny now have two new buddies!"

For more on this story, see next week's Longford Leader.