Bravery awards for those who risked fire, water and a bull

Outstanding acts of bravery including rescuing people from burning buildings, smouldering cars and fast-flowing rivers have been recognised in the National Bravery Awards.

Forty-two people, including farmers, nurses, a sports instructor, children, six members of An Garda Síochána and the Killybegs Fire Brigade, were honoured.

Ceann Comhairle Sean Barrett, who presented the awards, said the individual acts of bravery “show the moral quality” of the recipients.

Among them was Róisín Halligan (12) from Waterford who saved her cousin from a petrol-bomb attack. Róisín was in the sittingroom of her cousin’s house with her cousin Lexie (1) when she saw two figures dressed in black peering in the window. A three-month-old cousin was also in the house, as was her grandmother.

When a petrol bomb smashed through the window, Róisín shielded Lexie from the flames. Róisín, who was severely burned in the attack, was awarded a bronze medal and certificate of bravery.

John O’Donoghue from Cork was 15 when a bull attacked and gored his father Joe. John grabbed the bull by the nose ring and neck, distracting it for long enough to allow his father to escape.

As they both ran to their vehicle, the bull once again hit Joe and John went to his father’s aid for a second time. Both men made it to their four-wheel drive and the bull attacked the vehicle until they left the field.

“It wouldn’t put me off farming,” he said. John was awarded a silver medal and certificate of bravery.

A silver medal and certificate were also awarded Garda Michael Twomey.

In April 2014, Garda Twomey blocked the road where two people were speeding in a stolen van. The two had robbed the Vienna Woods Hotel, in Glanmire, Cork, and took a large quantity of alcohol before joyriding across the city and county.

They were involved in five separate collisions before Garda Twomey anticipated the route they would take.

He was intentionally rammed by the stolen vehicle and received serious back, neck and leg injuries. Two offenders were later arrested and convicted.

James Loughlin, from Co Donegal, came across a three-vehicle collision on the N15 Donegal Road junction with the Leghowney Road in September 2014.

He rescued a trapped man and a woman from their car before it caught fire. Mr Loughlin was awarded a bronze medal and certificate of bravery.

Martin Mullen from Co Tyrone and Stephen Andrews, Brendan Connolly and Thomas O’Brien from Dublin received bronze medals and certificates for an attempt to rescue Martin’s brother Aidan, who accidentally fell into the Liffey. Tragically Aidan lost his life.

Other recipients included: fireman Eli Brace and Joe Cantillon who got bronze medals and certificates for rescuing a woman from the Shannon.

Kerri Brosnan got a bronze medal for saving her mother from an attack by a cow.

Chris Carr was awarded a bronze medal for rescuing a woman from a burning building in Westmeath.

Jennifer Cunningham, Luke Foley and Katie McCabe got bronze medals for rescuing a woman from Dart tracks in Dublin.

Paul Lynam-Loane was awarded a bronze medal for waking residents in a burning building in Dublin and helping them escape.

James O’Reilly of Navan Road United FC was posthumously awarded a bronze medal and certificate of bravery for helping save a young man from drowning, while on a club trip to Wexford.