THREE MEN who died in successful rescue attempts and a garda who pulled two people from the water in two separate locations on the same day were recipients of the State's marine gallantry awards at Dublin Castle yesterday.
A Naval Service firefighting crew, Irish Coast Guard and Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) rescue teams, lifeguards, fishing skippers and members of the public were also among the 55 recipients of the fourth Marine Meritorious Awards, which were presented by Minister of State for Transport Noel Ahern.
"The debt we owe them is impossible to pay - today's presentation to them merely recognises their exceptional acts of valour," Mr Ahern said at the ceremony.
The gold medal for marine gallantry, named after former diver Michael Heffernan who died during a cave rescue in north Mayo, was awarded posthumously to two men, Jonathan Herlihy and Peter O'Keeffe, who lost their lives while rescuing a couple off Owenahincha beach in Co Cork in September, 2006 (see panel).
A posthumous gold medal was also given to Seamus Byrne for his rescue of a diver in difficulties in Co Clare in April, 2002. Bronze medals were presented to 10 recipients, including a mother, Anne Kiely, who was at Beale beach, Co Kerry, with her children on July 30th, 2007. When an adult and two children got into difficulty, she swam to the rescue.
Donegal teenagers Conor Doherty (15) and Ryan Hamill (14) also received bronze medals for their part in rescuing three children who were thrown into the water at Tullan Strand, Co Donegal, when their canoe capsized. Both teenagers had been skateboarding near by when they heard the alert. Colin McGuigan, who assisted them in bringing the three children ashore, received a letter of appreciation.
Former director of the Irish Coast Guard Capt Liam Kirwan and former assistant director Capt Geoff Livingstone received gold medals. A silver medal was presented to RNLI divisional inspector of lifeboats Colin Williams. Jim Griffin, Irish Coast Guard area officer in Dunmore East, Co Waterford, received a bronze medal.
Service medals were presented to a number of coast radio station officers in Dublin. The crew of the Arranmorelifeboat, which battled southwesterly storm force winds to bring a lone sailor to safety off the Donegal coast in July 2005, received letters of appreciation, as did other recipients, including skipper Johnny Walsh and colleagues who helped in the search for the fishing vessels, Pere Charlesand Honeydew IIwhich sank with the loss of seven lives in January 2007. Full details will be published on www.transport.ie
Jonathan Herlihy, Peter O'Keeffe, Seamus Byrne
ON Sunday afternoon of September 3rd, 2006, Jonathan Herlihy was walking along Owenahincha beach, Co Cork, with his mother and grandparents. Peter O'Keeffe was also strolling on the beach with his fiancée.
When both men heard calls for help, they ran to the water's edge - O'Keeffe having retrieved a lifebuoy.
A young couple had got into difficulty, and the two men threw them the lifebuoy, which saved their lives.
However, O'Keeffe and Herlihy were both swept away by currents.
A posthumous gold medal was also conferred yesterday on Seamus Byrne, who climbed down a cliff in Kilkee, Co Clare, on April 14th, 2002, to rescue a diver. A large wave threw Mr Byrne against a rock, killing him instantly. The diver was eventually saved by a boat.
David Hearne
GARDA David Hearne was on duty in Waterford on April 21st, 2007, when he received a call to go to Merchant's Quay where a man was reported to be in the river.
Garda Hearne ran down the quayside, scrambled down a disused rope and swam through currents.
He ferried the casualty, who had lost consciousness, to the quay wall and held on to a loose rope for 15 minutes until the fire brigade arrived to assist them both. Later the same day, Garda Hearne was called to Poleberry, Waterford, where a man had jumped into John's river.
In darkness, heavy rain and with a high tide running, Garda Hearne swam to the casualty when he and the man were pulled under the water many times in an ensuing struggle. A number of people gathered on the riverbank and formed a human chain to assist. Garda Hearne then returned to base, changed his uniform and returned to duty.
He was awarded the Michael Heffernan bronze medal for marine gallantry yesterday.
