Meet Athlone's Honorary Garda

Meet Athlone's young Honorary Garda, Crystal West (5).

While Garda O’Connor and Garda Mooney of Westmeath Roads Policing Unit were on duty in Athlone this week they met with Honorary Garda Crystal West, who was also on patrol in the Eiscir Park estate in Arcadia.

Honorary Garda West is a Little Blue Hero who recently received her patrol car following an illness with the assistance of Garda O’Grady and Garda Kelly in Athlone Garda Station.

The Little Blue Heroes Foundation is a charity operated entirely by volunteers made up of Garda members/staff, retired Garda members, their families, friends and civic minded people from communities. It aims to help families in need from local communities in Ireland who have children undergoing long-term medical treatment for serious illness.

The name ‘Little Blue Heroes’ came about when the volunteers found that the vast amount of the children they support have a strong fascination with police uniform, equipment, vehicles, Garda units, etc. This has even led some of the children to make a wish to become an Honorary Garda and become part of the Garda family.

As heroes to us with the battles they face, these children have become our Little Blue Heroes, the charity's website explains.