OUTSTANDING ACTS of bravery by 18 members of the public and emergency services across the State were honoured at a ceremony in Dublin yesterday.
Saving people from drowning and intervening in an on-street knife attack were among the acts honoured by Comhairle na Mire Gaile – the Deeds of Bravery Council.
The council, which was established in 1947, is chaired by the Ceann Comhairle of the Dáil.
Addressing the gathered recipients and their friends and families, Ceann Comhairle Seán Barrett said the awards were “richly deserved”.
“When I read the citations and acts of bravery, I am struck by the selfless heroism, the strength of character, the depths of courage and that willingness to step forward, despite the risks, to help their fellow man.”
Among those honoured yesterday was Stephen O’Neill (26), from Palmerstown in Dublin, who was presented with a silver medal for saving a man from drowning in the Liffey. “It was the night before Christmas eve in 2007 and I’d been out with a few friends. We left the Arlington Hotel at about 3am.
“We saw this guy on the boardwalk and the next thing he jumped in. We ran over to look and I spotted him in the water under the boardwalk. so I threw him a life ring.
“He wasn’t able to get it on. He was quite intoxicated.
“So I took off my jacket and jumped in. I was working in a butcher’s the next day and I had the car so I hadn’t had anything to drink.”
The man in the water started to grab him and pulled them both under the water, but Mr O’Neill managed to get the life ring on to him and get them both to the water’s edge, where an ambulance was waiting to take them to hospital.
“I was checked over for hypothermia, but I was okay and I checked myself out and made it into work the next day. Christmas eve is a busy day in a butcher’s.”
All he knows about the other man, who was in his mid-30s and from Co Roscommon, was that he survived the incident.
Mr O’Neill, who now works for Dublin Fire Brigade, based on Tara Street, says he has been involved in several Liffey rescues since. He was in work at 6pm yesterday after the ceremony and his shift finishes at 10am today.
“I wouldn’t take the day off, no. I feel very honoured and privileged to get this award.”
Four silver medals, nine bronze medals and five certificates were presented yesterday.
Any member of the public can nominate anyone for a Comhairle na Mire Gaile national bravery award. The act of bravery can have happened at any time.
The awards are co-ordinated by the Department of Justice.
Also on the council are the Cathaoirleach of the Seanad, the Lord Mayor of Dublin, the Lord Mayor of Cork, the Garda Commissioner, the president of the Association of City Councils and the chairman of the Irish Red Cross.
COURAGE IN ACTION
Pádraig Sheahan, from Ennis, Co Clare, was awarded a silver medal.
On Christmas night 2001, Mr Sheahan heard a woman screaming for help outside his house. She was being dragged along the road by a man who was also threatening her with a knife. He did not know either of them.
He intervened and confronted the attacker while the woman escaped into his house. The attacker than smashed the front window of his house trying to get in, but Mr Sheahan managed to subdue him until the emergency services arrived.
Brendan Greene and Patrick Boyle, both from Co Donegal, were both awarded silver medals, while the late Anthony Donaghy, also of Co Donegal, was posthumously awarded a certificate of bravery.
In the early hours of May 22nd, 1995, Mr Donaghy called the fire brigade reporting a blaze on board the fishing vessel Niamh Áine. He added he thought there were crew on board.
The fire service arrived in 11 minutes by which time the fire was very strong, and entry to the vessel was impossible. Two firemen, Mr Greene and Mr Boyle, using breathing apparatus, attempted to enter the vessel. Heavy smoke and wind made the job very difficult but after several attempts they entered and found two fishermen.
They got one out and then had to re-enter to get the second. If it had not been for their bravery and the quick actions of Mr Donaghy, there could have been the loss of two lives.
Sgt Gabriel Plower and Richard Coates, both from Co Wicklow, were each awarded bronze medals.
On July 6th, 2008, a man entered the Avoca river at the Riverwalk in Arklow.
The river was swollen after three days of rain, and despite this Mr Coates also entered the river and swam to the man. He brought him to a bank where they could both stand waist-deep.
The man tried to break away from Mr Coates and return to the deeper water. At this point Sgt Plower, Arklow Garda station, dived into the water, swam to where the two men were and brought the man to shore.
