Waterford News & StarNovember 8, 2016

Local heroup for Garda Ceejay

By Darren Skelton

THE youngest member of An GardaSíochaná was called into duty lastFriday afternoon in Waterford aftertwo unscrupulous thieves attempt-ed to steal Christmas.

Four-year-old Ceejay McArdle,from Castleblayney, Co Monaghan,arrived with a fleet of Gardaí – allsirens blaring – at Cartamundi onthe Industrial Estate shortly after

12:15pm. He was met by Santa Claushimself who told Ceejay what wasafter happening.

“I’ve terrible news,” Santa said,surrounded by his team of elves.“There are two robbers on the looseand they’re after making off withsome of our games…can you helpCeejay?!”

Ceejay jumped out of the car, top

to toe in official Garda uniform, andreported for duty. Within minutes,the thieves were spotted at the otherend of the Cartamundi car park andCeejay took off as fast as his little legscould carry him. His first, and mostimportant assignment as a Garda,had begun.

GardaMcArdleIn September 2014, at just two

years of age, Ceejay began feelingpoorly. He was getting high temper-atures for a few weeks and his par-ents, Susan and Marcus, couldn’tunderstand what was happening.Bloods were taken in Cavan Hospitaland after an original suspicion ofglandular fever was ruled out, thefamily received the devastating news

that Ceejay had leu-kaemia.

“Two hours aftergetting the diagnosisfrom his consultant,we were straight upto Crumlin,” Ceejay’sDad Marcus said.“He’s been receivingchemotherapy everyday since we got thatnews, and he willcontinue to do sountil January 2018.”

Sixteen monthsago, a local guard

called to Ceejay’s house tosee how he was getting on. The littletrooper, who had always loved theguards, got immensely excited. SgtDerek Rochford from MonaghanGardaí rued the fact that he wasmaking calls that day in anunmarked car so he promised thathe’d return. The next day, with achildseatreadyinthecar,hebroughtCeejay for a spin around town, with

up for Garda Ceejayup for Garda Ceejay

Garda Ceejay tries out his new Gardavehicle, which was presented to himby the Preparation staff ofCartamundi. All Photos: Joe Evans

Right: Fran Conroy of CartamundiIreland and Santa Claus presentGarda Ceejay with his Certificate forsaving Christmas.

Staff of Cartamundi, Gardaí, members of the Garda Motorcycle Club and Waterford Coastguard made the magic happenfor Garda Ceejay.

that Ceejay had leu-kaemia.

“Two hours after getting the diagnosis from his consultant, we were straight up to Crumlin,” Ceejay’s Dad Marcus said. “He’s been receiving chemotherapy every day since we got that news, and he will continue to do so until January 2018.”

ago, a local guard called to Ceejay’s house to

Waterford News & StarNovember 8, 2016

ocal heroes stepor Garda Ceejay

a final stop at his Granny’shouse.

Since then, his love for theGuards has grown, and thefeeling has been absolutelymutual. A Garda called AlanKeane saw the footage of Cee-jay spinning around on Face-book and arranged for him tovisit Garda HQ in PhoenixPark.

Next, he was off to Temple-more to pass out with the otherGarda Recruits and became anhonorary member of An GardaSíochaná.

“After that, he started gettingmessages from guards andpolice forces all over the world,”Marcus said.

“He has his good days and hisbad days, but the days with the Guardsare definitely his good days. We can’tsay enough about them.”

ToWaterfordLocal Garda Conor Courtney got

talking to Fran Conroy of Cartamundito see if they could think of somethingthat the people of Waterford could dofor Ceejay.

“Ceejay is a colleague of ours. Ouryoungest and most dedicated,” Conortold the Waterford News & Star. “I knowa Garda up the country that was friend-ly with Ceejay’s family and we got talk-ing about what we could do for himdown here. I spoke to Fran from Carta-

m u n d iand a plan started to come together.”

Every member of staff at Cartamun-di dressed up for the big day. Therewere Elves and little Santa’s helpers.The factory was decked out in Christ-mas trees and decorations and fromearly Friday morning, the Christmassongs were blaring out from the speak-ers. It was time to make a little boy’sdream come true.

“There they are!” Ceejay shouted ashe ran after the Christmas thieves.With Santa Claus in tow, they torethrough the factory in search of theboard game robbers.

“We need you to save Christmas forall the boys and girls Ceejay…they’redepending on you!” Santa said. No bet-

ter man. He had them found and hand-cuffed within minutes and with a rap-turous applause from the Cartamundistaff, he carted them both into jail.

“This is just unbelievable…I’m total-ly overwhelmed,” Ceejay’s motherSusan said. “It’s just so magical. He’sbeen running around all day and hegets that energy from the Guards. Theygive him such a boost and lift him fromhis bad days. I can’t believe what every-one has done here today…it’s just somagical.”

Once the thieves – played by JohnKelly and Shane Hutchinson – wereapprehended, Garda McArdle receivedhis reward. He was presented with a

certificate for savingChristmas, a bundleof board games, acollection of cashand vouchers thatthe staff of Carta-mundi had collect-ed and a brand newGarda Patrol Bikethat the staff of thePreparation Roomat Cartamundi hadbought for him. Itwas an amazingeffort from every-one concerned.

“As soon as weheard that Ceejayw a s c o m i n gdown to Water-ford to visit the

B a r r a c k s Ithought seeingas though wewere in thebusinesses of

making toys, it would be a great oppor-tunity to do something special for him,”said Fran Conroy of Cartamundi Ire-land. “We came up with the idea of hav-ing some bother in the plant with twothieves and the only man that couldhelp was Ceejay. Everyone in the facto-ry took the idea to their hearts – I didn’thave to go around asking people to getinvolved, they couldn’t wait to help.The evening shift did a collection forvouchers, the day shift did the same…the management were fantastic…itwas such a team effort and we’redelighted with how everything wentfor Ceejay.”

For Garda Ceejay McArdle inWaterford, with a smile from ear to ear,it was a day he’ll never forget.

a final stop at his Granny’s

Garda Ceejay McArdle, with his colleaguesfrom Waterford Garda Station, sets out toapprehend the Christmas thieves.

a final stop at his Granny’s

Since then, his love for the Guards has grown, and the feeling has been absolutely

Garda called Alan Keane saw the footage of Cee-jay spinning around on Face-book and arranged for him to visit Garda HQ in Phoenix

Next, he was off to Temple-more to pass out with the other Garda Recruits and became an honorary member of An Garda

“After that, he started getting messages from guards and

certificate for saving Christmas, a bundle of board games, a collection of cash and vouchers that the staff of Carta-mundi had collect-ed and a brand new Garda Patrol Bike that the staff of the Preparation Room at Cartamundi had bought for him. It was an amazing effort from every-one concerned.

heard that Ceejay w a s c o m i n g down to Water-ford to visit the

a final stop at his Granny’s

Garda Ceejay and Santa get their men and John Kelly and Shane

Hutchinson get ready for some hard time.Garda Ceejay and Santa get their men and John Kelly and Shane NABBED!

Local heroes step Local heroes step