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12 Jan 2026
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12 Jan 2026
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IT MAY be March 17 but it felt like December 25 to Cian Browne Vaughan who helped Limerick gardai police the St Patrick’s Day parade and travelled in the lead car.
Cian, aged eight, from Effin, also got to meet Mayor John Moran and his dog Henri but even that didn’t come close to being in the company of the men and women of Henry Street garda station.
Cian, who has autism, loves everything about the gardai and goes on trips with parents Mike and Ellen to different stations around the country to get his notebook stamped. They even drove to Donegal last year to see one of the newest garda vehicles - Nexus Type-R Golf - but missed it by a whisker.
When Inspector Padraigh Sutton, of Henry Street garda station, heard about this he arranged for Sergeant Aoife Bannon and Garda Sarah Durack to bring the Nexus to Cian’s home in Effin and brought him on a spin around south Limerick.
“I've never seen him smile as much,” said Ellen at the time but Cian may have had an even wider grin this Wednesday.
READ MORE: PICTURES: Limerick gardai go the extra mile to bring new patrol car to Cian's home
The planning for Cian’s important role on St Patrick’s Day began two months ago.
“It all started on his birthday. Padraigh Sutton rang him on January 28 to wish him a happy birthday and invite him to help them with the parade.
“He has been marking the days off since. We can't thank Padraigh and all gardai enough for all their work with Cian. Aoife and Sarah are amazing, as is his new partner Tony Miniter,” said Ellen.
Cian was in safe hands for his first day on duty with the vastly-experienced Sergeant Miniter.
Cian’s St Patrick’s Day began with an internal briefing in Henry Street where he even took some questions from members.
It was then time to head out with the Limerick Divisional Roads Policing Unit to help police the parade and enjoy a day Cian will never forget.
For more please see An Garda Siochana Limerick’s Facebook and Instagram pages.
For more pictures, click 'Next'
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