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Merit award for "courageous"
Buncrana RNLI
19.10.16
THE volunteer lifeboat
crew from Lough Swilly RNLI have been honoured with
a Marine Ministerial Letter of Appreciation for
Meritorious Service.
The award recognises the "professionalism and
courage" shown by the crew during a harrowing search
and recovery mission for five members of the same
family who drowned at Buncrana Pier in March.
Fanad man Davitt Walsh who saved the life of a baby
- the only survivor of the accident that night - was
honoured at the same event with a bravery medal.
Lough Swilly RNLI was represented at the awards
ceremony at Farmleigh House by lifeboat operations
manager John McCarter, coxswain Mark Barnett and
deputy launching authority Eunan McConnell. |
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Receiving the Marine Ministerial
Letter of Appreciation for Meritorious Service from
Transport, Tourism and Sport Minister Shane Ross at
Farmleigh House, Dublin, are Lough Swilly Lifeboat
members, from left, Mark Barnett, Eunan McConnell
and John McCarter. |
The local RNLI, whose
all weather lifeboat is located at Buncrana Pier,
was among the first emergency services on the scene
as night fell on March 20, 2016. They recovered the
five casualties from the water off the slipway and
administered casualty care onshore. Sadly, however,
all five casualties were pronounced dead a short
time later.
Minister Ross praised the "courageous achievements
and service of this group of brave Irish men and
women who have faced crises and dug deep, offering
their skills and in many cases placing themselves in
danger in order that others might be safe on our
waterways". Crews from Kinsale and Castletownbere
RNLI in Co Cork were also awarded a Marine
Ministerial Letter of Appreciation. |
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