Canal rescue hero honoured at Westmeath Garda Youth Awards

A young Mullingar man who came to the rescue of a baby who had fallen into the canal in her pram was among those honoured at the Westmeath Garda Youth Awards last week.

Tyrone Donoghue was praised for his quick thinking and bravery when he happened on the incident last March, which “exemplifies the type of selfless behaviour that deserves commendation by all members of the community, young and old alike”, stated Gda Brendan Minnock, Junior Liaison Officer, who read out the citation at the awards.

The event was hosted by Westmeath Gardaí at the Atrium in Áras an Chontae on Monday evening of last week.

Gda Minnock, in the citation, said Tyrone was walking on a bridge over the canal when he saw a mother pushing her baby daughter in a pram. When the woman stopped to take a bottle from the pram, it rolled away from her and into the water.

Tyrone ran from the bridge to the canal line and was the first on the scene to offer assistance. When he saw the mother in the canal struggling to hold the pram, he jumped in and held the pram above the water, with the baby still strapped in, until others came to help.

Tyrone’s actions minimised the time the baby was in the water and afterwards, he stayed at the scene to help and when he realised the child was shivering, he went to his home nearby and came back with a change of clothes for her, without delaying to change into dry clothes himself.

Other witnesses to the incident were quick to praise Tyrone’s courageous response to gardaí and ambulance personnel who arrived at the scene. They also commented on how positive it was to see a young person put the welfare of the child ahead of his own safety. The child’s parents later expressed gratitude to all who helped.

“Tyrone’s actions showed what can be achieved, no matter who you are or what age you are, and he is indeed a positive role model for the other young people of the community,” said Gda Minnock.

Tyrone won the Individual Award, and he was just one of the young people recognised at the awards event.

The other winners were: the Battery Heights Older Girls Group (Group Award); Bodhan Niekrashevych (Special Achievement Award); and Comhairle na nÓg (Community Safety Award).

The Battery Heights girl were awarded “for working together to make a positive contribution to their community” – among the projects they contributed to was a wall mural at Battery Heights.

The enthusiastic group from Comhairle na nÓg were recognised for their work on road safety; and Bodhan Niekrashevych, who is from Ukraine, was acknowledged for his contribution to community and school life at Marist College.

Sgt Damien Connaughton, Community Policing, Athlone, was MC for the evening, and Superintendent Bláithín Moran concluded the event. She thanked her colleagues in the gardaí who had organised the awards, and Westmeath County Council for supporting it. She paid tribute her fellow members of the judging panel, Annette Barr Jordan from the council and Peter Jones, solicitor.

She also thanked Padraic Jones from Garda National Community Engagement Bureau, who was present, and David Smyth Catering, who sponsored the tea, coffee, sandwiches and cakes. Supt Moran also thanked Helen Conneely of Celtic Roots, who designed the awards.

Full list of nominees

Individual Award nominees

1 Olivia McHale, nominated by John Keane, Mullingar MRFC

2 Jonathan Bars, nominated by Elaine Kilmartin, IWA

3 Sean Speller, nominated by Garda John Walsh

4 Jack McDonnell, nominated by Paul Heduan, Milltown GFC

5 Charlie Claffey, nominated by Bláithín Fleming, Marist School

6 Steven Burbridge, nominated by Garda John Walsh

7 Aisling Regan, nominated by Val Connell, Cullion GAA

8 Ben McNamee, nominated by Mullingar Tidy Towns

9 Nikka Sule, nominated by Frances Lyons, Ballynacargy GAA

10 Tyrone Donoghue, nominated by Gda Debbie Mackin and Gda Enda Kelly

• Winner, Tyrone Donoghue

Group Award Nominees

1 Mercy Leader Group, nominated by St Joseph’s Secondary School, Rochfortbridge

2 Cadet Unit, Order of Malta, nominated by Colin Watters

3 Battery Heights Older Girls Group, Athlone, nominated by Carrie Lynch

4 Mullingar Eye and YoYo Café, Mullingar, nominated by Joan O’Connor

5 Mullingar Lithuanian Community youth groups, nominated by Davia Kasikauskiene

6 2023/24 TY Group, St Joseph Secondary School, nominated by Margaret Cole

• Winner, the Battery Heights Older Girls Group

Special Achievement Award nominees

1 Owen McArdle, nominated by Roisin Kenny

2 Abdul Odusoga, nominated by Carrie Lynch

3 Evan Cunningham, nominated by Bill Collentine

4 Bodhan Niekrashevych, nominated by Bláithín Fleming, Marist School

5 Paul O’Grady, nominated by Richard Muldarry

• Winner, Bodhan Niekrashevych

Community Safety Award nominees

1 Coláiste Mhuire Mullingar, TYs, nominated by Kieran Kelly

2 Comhairle na nÓg, nominated by Edwina Farrell

• Winner, Comhairle na nÓg