PERSON OF THE YEAR AWARD FOR COUNTY HOSPITAL SURGEON
Person of the Year' award for County Hospital surgeon
MR DOMINIC Pinto, consultant surgeon at Tyrone County Hospital, was honoured in Dublin this week when he received an Irish Person of the Year award.
The Goa-born surgeon was selected to represent all the brave men and women who worked so tirelessly to save lives in the aftermath of the atrocity of August 15.
The Eire Prime Minister, Mr Bertie Ahern, presented Mr Pinto with his award and praised him for his courage in the days following the Omagh bomb.
The two men had met before when Mr Ahern visited the town to attend the 'Act of Prayerful Reflection' on August 22, exactly one week after the explosion.
"Mr Ahern passed on his congratulations to all members of the emergency services for their good work," said Mr Pinto.
He added: "It was a great privilege to receive the award, and it shows that a lot of people think that what happened in Omagh should be recorded.
"It is nice that we are appreciated for the work that we did, but it is not the way I would like Omagh to be remembered at all the only thing we want is peace."
Accompanying Mr Pinto to the ceremony in Dublin was a party from Omagh representing some of the groups who played an important role in the immediate aftermath of the bomb.
They were Derek Patterson, an ambulance driver based in the town, Seamus Kelly, a nurse at the Tyrone County Hospital, Mrs Catherine Slevin, of Slevin's chemist, close to the scene of the bomb, and Michael Skuce, local RUC chief inspector.
Mr Pinto, who has worked at the Tyrone County Hospital for 18 years, has previously received recognition for his work following the Ballygawley bus bombing, on August 20, 1988, for which he was awarded an OBE.
Congratulations for Mr Pinto's achievement came from local councillor Mr Paddy McGowan, who said the award was well deserved.
"Mr Pinto is a great ambassador for the community, and the. community owes him a great debt," he said.
"He has all the qualities one could ask for in such a prizewinner. He is a professional and a gentleman, who always has time for the people. I am so pleased for him and so proud to know him."
Other recipients of the 1998 ESB/Rehab People of the rehabs awards were Senator George Mitchell; Sophia McColgan, a sex abuse victim; Queva Griffin, a heart and lung transplant operation survivor; Anna May McHugh, of the Irish National Ploughing Association; Dr Jerry Cowley, a GP from Co Mayo, and Brian Kerr, manager of international youth soccer squads.
In previous years, the awards have been restricted to Irish-born nominees, and winners have included Brian Keenan, who survived a hostage ordeal in Beirut, Mary Robinson, the former Irish president, and John Hume MP, MEP.
MR DOMINIC Pinto, consultant surgeon at Tyrone County Hospital, was honoured in Dublin this week when he received an Irish Person of the Year award.
The Goa-born surgeon was selected to represent all the brave men and women who worked so tirelessly to save lives in the aftermath of the atrocity of August 15.
The Eire Prime Minister, Mr Bertie Ahern, presented Mr Pinto with his award and praised him for his courage in the days following the Omagh bomb.
The two men had met before when Mr Ahern visited the town to attend the 'Act of Prayerful Reflection' on August 22, exactly one week after the explosion.
"Mr Ahern passed on his congratulations to all members of the emergency services for their good work," said Mr Pinto.
He added: "It was a great privilege to receive the award, and it shows that a lot of people think that what happened in Omagh should be recorded.
"It is nice that we are appreciated for the work that we did, but it is not the way I would like Omagh to be remembered at all the only thing we want is peace."
Accompanying Mr Pinto to the ceremony in Dublin was a party from Omagh representing some of the groups who played an important role in the immediate aftermath of the bomb.
They were Derek Patterson, an ambulance driver based in the town, Seamus Kelly, a nurse at the Tyrone County Hospital, Mrs Catherine Slevin, of Slevin's chemist, close to the scene of the bomb, and Michael Skuce, local RUC chief inspector.
Mr Pinto, who has worked at the Tyrone County Hospital for 18 years, has previously received recognition for his work following the Ballygawley bus bombing, on August 20, 1988, for which he was awarded an OBE.
Congratulations for Mr Pinto's achievement came from local councillor Mr Paddy McGowan, who said the award was well deserved.
"Mr Pinto is a great ambassador for the community, and the. community owes him a great debt," he said.
"He has all the qualities one could ask for in such a prizewinner. He is a professional and a gentleman, who always has time for the people. I am so pleased for him and so proud to know him."
Other recipients of the 1998 ESB/Rehab People of the rehabs awards were Senator George Mitchell; Sophia McColgan, a sex abuse victim; Queva Griffin, a heart and lung transplant operation survivor; Anna May McHugh, of the Irish National Ploughing Association; Dr Jerry Cowley, a GP from Co Mayo, and Brian Kerr, manager of international youth soccer squads.
In previous years, the awards have been restricted to Irish-born nominees, and winners have included Brian Keenan, who survived a hostage ordeal in Beirut, Mary Robinson, the former Irish president, and John Hume MP, MEP.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/0760
Published Date: 12-Nov-98
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