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Ceann Comhairle presents National Bravery Awards for outstanding feats of courage

13 Nov 2015, 13:38

Ceann Comhairle Seán Barrett, TD, presented awards in recognition of outstanding acts of bravery at a national ceremony in Farmleigh House today.

13th November 2015

The honours are awarded by Comhairle na Mire Gaile – the Deeds of Bravery Council – which was established in 1947 to provide for suitable recognition by the State of deeds of bravery. The Council, which is chaired by the Ceann Comhairle, includes the Cathaoirleach of Seanad Éireann, the Lord Mayor of Dublin, the Lord Mayor of Cork, the Garda Commissioner, the President of the Association of City & County Councils and the Chairman of the Irish Red Cross.

The Council may award medals in either Gold, Silver or Bronze categories. Certificates of recognition may also be awarded. The Council hopes that this high profile ceremony will draw deserved attention to the brave actions of the recipients and heighten awareness of this national awards scheme generally.

Congratulating the recipients, Ceann Comhairle Seán Barrett, TD, said “It is truly an honour to present awards to the incredibly brave individuals we welcome to Farmleigh House today. Their courage and selflessness make them examples to us all and I believe that it is vital that such acts are recognised publically. These men, women and children of Ireland went to the aid of others, at great risk to their own safety and we salute them for their outstanding deeds.”

Among those receiving awards are:

Martin Mullen (Tyrone), Stephen Andrews (Dublin), Brendan Connolly (Dublin) and Thomas O’Brien (Dublin) (Bronze Medals): Attempted to rescue Martin’s brother Aidan (RIP) from the River Liffey.

Fireman Eli Brace and Joe Cantillon (Bronze Medals): Rescued a woman from the River Shannon (Limerick).

Kerri Brosnan (Bronze Medal): Saved her mother from an attack by a suckler cow (Cork).

Chris Carr (Bronze Medal): Rescued a woman from a burning building (Westmeath).

Jennifer Cunningham, Luke Foley and Katie McCabe (Bronze Medals): Rescued a woman from the DART tracks Dublin

Roisin Halligan (Bronze Medal): Saved her cousins from a petrol bomb attack on their home (Waterford)

James Loughlin (Bronze Medal): Rescued a woman from a burning car and also assisted another trapped individual at the scene (Donegal)

Paul Lynam-Loane (Bronze Medal): Evacuated sleeping residents from a burning building (Dublin).
James O’Reilly (posthumously awarded a Bronze Medal): Lost his life attempting to rescue a child from the water (Dublin)

Garda Brendan O’Toole (Bronze Medal): Pursued two armed raiders who held up a corner shop (Kildare).

Colin Carter (Silver Medal): Saved a woman from an arson attack on her home (Louth)

John O’Donoghue (Silver Medal): Saved his father, who had been gored by a bull (Cork)

Garda Michael Twomey (Silver Medal): Anticipated the route of travel of a gang of joyriders and prevented loss of life by stationing himself at a major road junction (Cork)

A number of recipients were also awarded certificates at today’s ceremony. They are:

•    Linda Brereton (Monaghan)
•    Eamon Friel (Sligo)
•    Sergeant Oliver Goggin (Cork)
•    David Grant (Dublin)
•    Alex May (Dublin)
•    Ben Graham (Dublin
•    Shane Kennedy (Dublin)
•    Staff Nurse Nigel Harkin (Donegal)
•    Staff Nurse Noreen McLaughlin (Donegal)
•    Staff Nurse Mariosa Shiels (Donegal)
•    Staff Nurse Hugh McCauley (Donegal)
•    Adam Horgan (Cork)
•    Alastair Jones (Wicklow)
•    Garda Padraig Keane (Dublin)
•    The Killybegs Fire Brigade (Donegal)
•    Enda McDonald (Wexford)
•    Rafal Piasecki (Wexford)
•    Garda Sergeant Carrie O’Connor (Dublin)
•    Garda Carroll Walsh (Dublin)
•    Tony Stack (Kerry)
•    Brian Supple (Kildare).
•    Ross Brunton (Westmeath).
•    Leon Matthews (Westmeath).

NOTE: Photographs from this event are available from Maxwell Photography: (01) 830 7473 or office@maxwellphotography.ie

For more details on the Bravery Awards, access National Bravery Awards website https://www.bravery.ie/

ENDS/

Media enquiries to:

Liam O’Brien,
Communications Unit,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2.
P: +353 1 618 4484 / M: +353 86 189 5098
Email: liam.obrien@oireachtas.ie
Twitter: @OireachtasNews



 

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