Gardai surprise cocooning Navan man with cake to mark 95th birthday

Louise Walsh

Thoughful gardai surprised a cocooning elderly man with a cake and a mini-party to mark his 95th birthday in Meath on Wednesday.

Oliver McCann was taken aback when the gardai arrived at his Navan home and he emerged from his cocoon to the tune of happy birthday sung by socially distanced neighbours.

The party was organised by local community garda, Stacey Looby, who decided she couldn't let the occasion go without marking it for the popular man.

Unknown to Oliver and with the help of her colleagues, she arranged a cake and told of the birthday to neighbours, who immediately jumped at the chance to make his day that bit extra special

"I was delivering messaging to him last week as part of our efforts to help those cocooning during Covid-19," said Stacey.

"He loves the chats and he mentioned that it was his 95th birthday soon so I thought I had to do something. I went to organise a cake from the nearby SuperValu and when they heard what it was for, they generously donated it.

"I also went to a few neighbours who spread the word and made sure they were all outside to sing him Happy Birthday when I asked him to come outside his house. About 30 neighbours showed up with that many gifts, he was waving us goodbye with a bunch of tulips," she laughed.

Oliver, who has been cocooning since Covid-19 restrictions were announced said he was 'shocked' by the kind community gesture.

"I only mentioned it to Stacey in passing and all of a sudden, there were people singing to me," he laughed.

"I was genuinely shocked and surprised that anyone would bother marking my birthday.

"It has been hard isolating but we have to follow the rules. I'd just like to thank everyone for making my birthday so special."