OMAGH FIREFIGHTERS SHARE BRIGADE'S PRIDE IN AWARD
Omagh firelighters share Brigade's pride in award
BY ADRIAN MULLAN
Local firefighters shared the pride of the Fire Brigade as a whole as the work of that organsation was honoured by the Northern Ireland Assembly earlier this week.
Speaking about the reaction locally, Omagh's station officer John Langtry, said that it was a great honour to have received the recognition. "We pride ourselves locally and nationally as serving the whole community both during and before the Troubles."
He said that the Brigade could pride itself on the high levels of neutrality of its members.
Though he acknowledged that there was a certain pride in receiving the recognition by the Assembly he stressed that it would not alter the day to day work of the Fire Brigade but added, "it is a pat on the back for us."
Individual officers will not receive service medals rather the roll of honour presented to fire chiefs by Bairbre de Brun on Tuesday recognises the contribution of all of the members who have served in often very hazardous circumstances. The award was the first of its kind ever sanctioned by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Mr Langtry said that, luckily, most officers serving in the Omagh do not come under attack by stone throwers or by armed men as is often the ease in Belfast, however, he did say that following the arrest of Stephen Scott for the murder of Sylvia Flemming 3 years ago that his men did come under attack when attending fires in the Mullaghmore estate.
Scott had been a part-time fire-fighter and and Mr Langtry said that that was one occasion when the neutrality of the Fire Service was challenged. However, he added that the Fire Brigade's role in the aftermath of the Omagh bomb put the Brigade's position into perspective again.
He said that for the most part his officers do not suffer harassment in the Omagh area and that the most problematic time is Halloween but that, on the whole, the Brigade is well accepted in the Omagh area.
BY ADRIAN MULLAN
Local firefighters shared the pride of the Fire Brigade as a whole as the work of that organsation was honoured by the Northern Ireland Assembly earlier this week.
Speaking about the reaction locally, Omagh's station officer John Langtry, said that it was a great honour to have received the recognition. "We pride ourselves locally and nationally as serving the whole community both during and before the Troubles."
He said that the Brigade could pride itself on the high levels of neutrality of its members.
Though he acknowledged that there was a certain pride in receiving the recognition by the Assembly he stressed that it would not alter the day to day work of the Fire Brigade but added, "it is a pat on the back for us."
Individual officers will not receive service medals rather the roll of honour presented to fire chiefs by Bairbre de Brun on Tuesday recognises the contribution of all of the members who have served in often very hazardous circumstances. The award was the first of its kind ever sanctioned by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Mr Langtry said that, luckily, most officers serving in the Omagh do not come under attack by stone throwers or by armed men as is often the ease in Belfast, however, he did say that following the arrest of Stephen Scott for the murder of Sylvia Flemming 3 years ago that his men did come under attack when attending fires in the Mullaghmore estate.
Scott had been a part-time fire-fighter and and Mr Langtry said that that was one occasion when the neutrality of the Fire Service was challenged. However, he added that the Fire Brigade's role in the aftermath of the Omagh bomb put the Brigade's position into perspective again.
He said that for the most part his officers do not suffer harassment in the Omagh area and that the most problematic time is Halloween but that, on the whole, the Brigade is well accepted in the Omagh area.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/0790
Published Date: 19-Jan-01
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