Gardai praised for reuniting tourist with lost phone containing pics of late grandad
A member of the Garda has been hailed for aiding a tourist who misplaced her phone, filled with cherished photos of her late grandad, just as she was boarding a flight back to Poland.
Aleksandra had been holidaying in Ireland and was on her way home to Poland when she accidentally left her phone at Dublin Airport's boarding gate. The flight had already taken off from Dublin when Aleksandra realised her phone was missing.
Another passenger found the phone and managed to send a text to Aleksandra's fiancé, saying she would hand it over to security at Dublin Airport. However, Aleksandra didn't know where exactly the woman had handed it in, and the phone's battery died before she could find out, reports the Irish Mirror.
Aleksandra's grandfather, a significant figure in her life, had recently passed away. Her phone held many sentimental photographs, voice notes and videos of him which seemed lost as they were not backed up.
Desperate to retrieve these precious mementos, Aleksandra flew back to Ireland in an attempt to locate the phone. Upon landing back in Dublin, Aleksandra first checked with airport staff, but unfortunately, the phone couldn't be located.
In a final effort, she approached officers at the Garda Station near Terminal 1 around 4am on Tuesday morning. Garda Grace Roddy, who was on overnight duty at the public desk, heard about Aleksandra's plight and was determined to help.
Going "above and beyond to assist" Garda Roddy scoured the airport but initially couldn't find the phone. Refusing to give up, she returned to the gate Aleksandra had departed from days earlier and there, hidden away in a drawer at one of the airline's desks, she found the phone.
The phone, filled with cherished photographs, videos, and audio clips, was returned to Aleksandra on what serendipitously turned out to be her 30th birthday. An Garda Siochana shared the touching tale on their Facebook page, including an email from Aleksandra expressing gratitude to Garda Roddy for her assistance.
"Ms. Garda Grace Roddy demonstrated genuine empathy, took the time to listen and made every effort to help me get my phone back - even though she was not obliged to do so," Aleksandra wrote.
"Her professionalism and willingness to act made things happen. She found my phone which I truly appreciate. In times when such personal commitment is rare, Ms. Garda Grace Roddy's actions deserve to be recognised."
The story prompted a massive reaction online, with social media users lavishing praise on Garda Roddy for aiding the Polish national. One person said: "That's what makes the Irish Police different from all other Police forces anywhere."
Another added: "What a wonderful happy story. That's what you could look forward to telling all your family and friends about the real good decent people of Ireland and what a very kind Gardai to go to such lengths. Well done. Total Respect."
While a third said: "What a fabulous young lady, Garda Grace Roddy is, such empathy, An Garda Siochana are very lucky to have her as are the general public. It is great that Aleksandra contacted the station to show her gratitude. human nature is sometimes that we tell more of the negative side rather than the good news."
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