A County Sligo man and five local Gardaí will be honoured at the National Bravery Awards in Dublin for their roles in saving lives in a Drumliffe house fire and of a man drowning in the Garavogue River.
Collooney resident Adam McGoldrick and Garda Stephen Fahy are receiving Certificates of Bravery for their actions on 6 August 2017, when a man jumped from Hyde Bridge into the Garavogue. Garda Fahy and Mr McGoldrick both dove into the river to retrieve the man, who fought their efforts but was pulled ashore and recovered at Sligo General Hospital.
Meanwhile four Gardaí who responded to a Drumcliffe house fire on June 1 2017 also are receiving Certificates for Bravery.
Garda Thomas O’Griofa and Garda David Hannon entered the smoke-filled house to search for survivors and located a man in one bedroom. Garda O’Griofa and a newly arrived officer, Garda Patrick Gallagher, pulled the man to safety – but he was too disoriented to confirm whether anyone else was inside.
Garda Gallagher and Sgt. Gerard Mullaney conducted a follow-up search despite the life-threatening conditions inside and determined nobody else remained.
The rescued man, Garda O’Griofa and Garda Hannon all were treated for smoke inhalation.
The five gardaí and Mr. McGoldrick are among 21 people being honoured at Friday’s ceremony at Farmleigh House in the Phoenix Park, Dublin.
