little guys, big hearts

I was struck by the resemblance on the front page of Friday's Irish Times between a new Garda and a famous cartoon character from my youth.

The Gary Sheehan Medal, for the best all-round performance during training, has been awarded to Garda Patrick Ahern. Mr Ahern is a married father of one from Southhill, Limerick city. He is currently based at Thurles Garda station, Co Tipperary.

On the other hand, Inch High, Private Eye was a miniature detective who worked for the Finkerton detective agency, where his cranky boss Mr. Finkerton constantly dreamed of the day that he would fire him.