BRAVERY AWARDS FOR BOMB VICTIM AND BUS DRIVER WHO HELPED INJURED AT SCENE
Bravery awards for bomb victim and bus driver who helped injured at scene
AN Omagh woman who defied near impossible odds to marry her fianc�, and a bus driver who rushed to help those injured and dying following the Market Street bomb in August, have been awarded Pride of Britain Awards for outstanding bravery.
The pair were among a host of 'ordinary' people from all walks of life to receive accolades for showing superhuman courage and pluck in the face of adversity.
Bomb survivor, Mrs. Donna-Marie McGillion (formerly Keyes), and bus driver, Mr. Michael McNally, were presented with their awards at a star studded gala event in London last week.
Donna Marie received her award from SDLP leader and Nobel Laureate, Mr. John Hume. He was invited to do the honours, as she has been a long-standing admirer of the politician.
She received 65 per cent burns in the August 15 bombing, and was at one stage given the last rites as she lay in a coma in a Belfast hospital. Her husband's niece, Breda, who was just 21 months old, perished in the blast.
Her then fianc�, Garry, was also injured in the bomb attack, as was her sister-in-law, Mrs. Tracey Devine.
Presenting the accolade, Mr. Hume commented: "It is an honour to present this award to such a very courageous person. Donna Marie is an outstanding symbol of the courage of all those who have suffered in the terrible tragedy of Omagh."
Organisers said that Donna Marie was given the award for her "amazing perseverance and indomitable spirit"
Accepting her award, Donna Marie said she was honoured and privileged to be at the ceremony, and she went on to thank the people who had helped in her recovery process. And she paid particular tribute to her husband and mother and father for her 'fighting spirit'.
Peace
'Dedicating her award to those injured and killed in the atrocity, she said: "If we hope and pray for peace in Ireland, then surely it will come about.
"It was great to meet John Hume, he is a hero of mine. These awards are a great idea - it is good to applaud people, ordinary people, who don't live in the public eye," she said.
"Without Garry or my parents this whole thing would have been much more difficult, but with them at my side I am getting better and better," she added.
The iron-willed young woman only discovered she had won an award the Friday before she travelled to England for the ceremony, at the London Dorchester Hotel.
"I think my dad and mum knew, but they just kept it from me," she recalled.
Among the many stars she met was Chris Evans, the television chat show host and former radio presenter, who gave them tickets for a West End show and invited Donna Marie to appear on his wacky weekend show 'TFI Friday'.
"I remember when I got up to accept my award, I was hoping people would not speak, but I also remember looking down at the audience, and it was all famous faces looking at me, instead of me looking at them," she said.
Her husband, Garry, said it was 'just great' that Donna Marie had received the award, and added that the courage she had shown, not just for herself, but towards others, had been amazing.
"She wondered why she was picked to get the award but I would say it's her spirited and willingness to fight," he said.
"Donna Marie personally suffered terribly from that bomb. Her enormous courage, bravery and humanity symbolises the courage, bravery and humanity of all that suffered and all the victims of the Omagh bomb" he added.
Bus driver, Michael McNally, Lismore Park, Omagh, accepted his award from 'Boyzone' vocalist, Ronan Keating, on behalf of everyone who helped in the aftermath of the bombing.
Awful day
Choking back tears he said August 15 last year was an awful day, and "must never happen again." Arriving at the same time as the paramedics and police he began to pluck the injured from the rubble.
"There was an awful lot of people involved who did an awful lot of work. I'd just driven past the scene 10 minutes before I heard the blast, and presumed it was at the courthouse, because I'd been told there was a suspect device up there.
"When I heard where it was I knew there had been a massacre and realised we just had to help. The traffic was all backed up and I had to drive the wrong side down the road. I could never have imagined what I'd find, it's something I will never forget," he said.
"I just did what I had to do and helped as many people as I could onto the bus. I drove them to hospital and then tried to get back to help others, but by that time the police and army were there," he said.
"I dread to think what could have been if Tyrone County Hospital had not been there. It's at moments like that that you realise just how important a local accident and emergency unit is," he said.
"Looking back, I cannot imagine what I would have done and how many other lives would have been lost if I'd had to drive another 30 miles to get help for those people," he added.
"It is important Omagh is never forgotten and days like this are important because it makes us all remember," he said of the awards ceremony.
AN Omagh woman who defied near impossible odds to marry her fianc�, and a bus driver who rushed to help those injured and dying following the Market Street bomb in August, have been awarded Pride of Britain Awards for outstanding bravery.
The pair were among a host of 'ordinary' people from all walks of life to receive accolades for showing superhuman courage and pluck in the face of adversity.
Bomb survivor, Mrs. Donna-Marie McGillion (formerly Keyes), and bus driver, Mr. Michael McNally, were presented with their awards at a star studded gala event in London last week.
Donna Marie received her award from SDLP leader and Nobel Laureate, Mr. John Hume. He was invited to do the honours, as she has been a long-standing admirer of the politician.
She received 65 per cent burns in the August 15 bombing, and was at one stage given the last rites as she lay in a coma in a Belfast hospital. Her husband's niece, Breda, who was just 21 months old, perished in the blast.
Her then fianc�, Garry, was also injured in the bomb attack, as was her sister-in-law, Mrs. Tracey Devine.
Presenting the accolade, Mr. Hume commented: "It is an honour to present this award to such a very courageous person. Donna Marie is an outstanding symbol of the courage of all those who have suffered in the terrible tragedy of Omagh."
Organisers said that Donna Marie was given the award for her "amazing perseverance and indomitable spirit"
Accepting her award, Donna Marie said she was honoured and privileged to be at the ceremony, and she went on to thank the people who had helped in her recovery process. And she paid particular tribute to her husband and mother and father for her 'fighting spirit'.
Peace
'Dedicating her award to those injured and killed in the atrocity, she said: "If we hope and pray for peace in Ireland, then surely it will come about.
"It was great to meet John Hume, he is a hero of mine. These awards are a great idea - it is good to applaud people, ordinary people, who don't live in the public eye," she said.
"Without Garry or my parents this whole thing would have been much more difficult, but with them at my side I am getting better and better," she added.
The iron-willed young woman only discovered she had won an award the Friday before she travelled to England for the ceremony, at the London Dorchester Hotel.
"I think my dad and mum knew, but they just kept it from me," she recalled.
Among the many stars she met was Chris Evans, the television chat show host and former radio presenter, who gave them tickets for a West End show and invited Donna Marie to appear on his wacky weekend show 'TFI Friday'.
"I remember when I got up to accept my award, I was hoping people would not speak, but I also remember looking down at the audience, and it was all famous faces looking at me, instead of me looking at them," she said.
Her husband, Garry, said it was 'just great' that Donna Marie had received the award, and added that the courage she had shown, not just for herself, but towards others, had been amazing.
"She wondered why she was picked to get the award but I would say it's her spirited and willingness to fight," he said.
"Donna Marie personally suffered terribly from that bomb. Her enormous courage, bravery and humanity symbolises the courage, bravery and humanity of all that suffered and all the victims of the Omagh bomb" he added.
Bus driver, Michael McNally, Lismore Park, Omagh, accepted his award from 'Boyzone' vocalist, Ronan Keating, on behalf of everyone who helped in the aftermath of the bombing.
Awful day
Choking back tears he said August 15 last year was an awful day, and "must never happen again." Arriving at the same time as the paramedics and police he began to pluck the injured from the rubble.
"There was an awful lot of people involved who did an awful lot of work. I'd just driven past the scene 10 minutes before I heard the blast, and presumed it was at the courthouse, because I'd been told there was a suspect device up there.
"When I heard where it was I knew there had been a massacre and realised we just had to help. The traffic was all backed up and I had to drive the wrong side down the road. I could never have imagined what I'd find, it's something I will never forget," he said.
"I just did what I had to do and helped as many people as I could onto the bus. I drove them to hospital and then tried to get back to help others, but by that time the police and army were there," he said.
"I dread to think what could have been if Tyrone County Hospital had not been there. It's at moments like that that you realise just how important a local accident and emergency unit is," he said.
"Looking back, I cannot imagine what I would have done and how many other lives would have been lost if I'd had to drive another 30 miles to get help for those people," he added.
"It is important Omagh is never forgotten and days like this are important because it makes us all remember," he said of the awards ceremony.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/1354
Published Date: 27-May-99
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