BRAVERY DURING BOMB RECOGNISED
Order of Malta volunteer wins award
BY: MICHELE CANNING
THE BRAVE actions of a local woman who tended to the injured and dying victims of the Omagh bombing - despite being caught up in the blast herself - have been recognised this week after she received a Courage Award.
Roisin McKenny was one of the first volunteer workers on the scene of the carnage to render help to the maimed and injured.
She had been working in Slevin's Chemist just 30 yards away when the massive car bomb exploded, claiming 31 lives and injuring over 370 people.
Roisin, who is a Captain in the Order of Malta, was chosen as the recipient of this year's Securicor Courage Award.
Although she had been caught up in the explosion the courageous local woman immediately got her first aid kit and went to the area worst hit by the car bomb.
Despite the horrific scenes she encountered, Roisin spent the entire day helping before going on to spend time comforting the relatives of both the dead and the badly injured.
On Tuesday at a special function in the Berkeley Court Hotel in Dublin, Roisin was presented with the Award which takes the form of an original sculpture "The Spirit of Courage" and an educational bursary of �10,000.
Speaking to the "Herald" from Dublin on Tuesday just hours before receiving the award, Roisin spoke of her "guilt" because of the "so many many wonderful and good people who will not be recognised for their help.
"I really feel that I don't deserve this award because there were so many people there helping. Those people may never be heard of and will not be recognised for their efforts.
"I just represent the many people that rendered assistance on the 15th of August
That day recalled Roisin was the day she thought it was "the end of the world."
"It was my experience and training that helped me to go out and assist people. I went and got my bandages and equipment and someone called me to help. They had a superficial injury.
"When I went out on the street it was just one casualty after another. I assisted the injured and dying."
Roisin, who is no longer an active member of the Order but who is still involved, teaching first aid classes, admitted "First aid just went out the window that day. The main aim was to get people to hospital as quickly as possible."
Roisin lost some of her good and close friends in the Real IRA bombing and recalls "I was everywhere on the street that day and I did not recognise the people I was treating. It was not until afterwards that I realised who the people were."
Roisin's nomination for the Securicor Courage Award by the Order came as a shock to her.
She said "It all came as a big shock to me and at the minute I am very nervous about receiving it."
John O' Grady of the judging panel said they had selected Roisin not alone for her immense contribution "on that awful day in August, but also as a representative for all of the voluntary services that had done so much on that day without any thought to their own safety."
The award recognises her 'courage and outstanding service in administering to the casualties and comforting their relatives in the aftermath of the Omagh bomb explosion.'
Roisin was nominated for the award by the Order of Malta noting her 'courage and fortitude and discipline in providing outstanding service in the most difficult of conditions'.
Roisin has nominated two schools, which help autistic children, as the beneficiaries of her �10,000 bursary.
The schools she has chosen are St Agnes' Day Care Centre in Donegal Town and Cranny School in Omagh.
The education of autistic children is a cause close to her heart. She has a three and a half year old grand nephew who is autistic.
She explained "I think it is really important that autistic children are given the opportunity to be educated. There is not enough money available for their education.
"If they are educated very young they can grow up to be independent. I think that from age three to seven children should be educated as much as possible.
"By giving the bursary to the two schools it will help to raise awareness of autism."
The Dromore born and educated woman has been with the Order of Malta Ambulance Corps in Omagh since 1965 and has served the community in a voluntary capacity, both as a first aider and also as a home care assistant.
Never were her skills more necessary or more evident than on the afternoon of August 15th.
While Roisin plays down her role, friends and the people of Omagh are quick to recognise the major contribution she made on that afternoon- a contribution that built on all she has done in the area over the past 30 years.
She has had a distinguished career in the Order winning numerous first aid competitions, and taking runner-up in the All-Ireland competition.
She has also received both bronze and silver merit awards from the Order of Malta in Ireland and has been awarded the Cross of Merit from the Sovereign Council in Rome in recognition of her outstanding work in Omagh.
1998 is the eleventh year of the Securicor Courage Award. It was set up in 1987 by Securicor Ireland Ltd to mark 25 years in business.
The awards theme defines courage not just as instinctive acts of courage where people risk their lives to save others, but also the courage to triumph over personal adversity.
This year's Judging Panel consisted of John O' Grady, Chairman, Jennifer McGuinness, Chairperson of the Irish Association for Victim Support, Tom McCaughren of RTE and Bernard Smith, Managing Director of Securicor.
BY: MICHELE CANNING
THE BRAVE actions of a local woman who tended to the injured and dying victims of the Omagh bombing - despite being caught up in the blast herself - have been recognised this week after she received a Courage Award.
Roisin McKenny was one of the first volunteer workers on the scene of the carnage to render help to the maimed and injured.
She had been working in Slevin's Chemist just 30 yards away when the massive car bomb exploded, claiming 31 lives and injuring over 370 people.
Roisin, who is a Captain in the Order of Malta, was chosen as the recipient of this year's Securicor Courage Award.
Although she had been caught up in the explosion the courageous local woman immediately got her first aid kit and went to the area worst hit by the car bomb.
Despite the horrific scenes she encountered, Roisin spent the entire day helping before going on to spend time comforting the relatives of both the dead and the badly injured.
On Tuesday at a special function in the Berkeley Court Hotel in Dublin, Roisin was presented with the Award which takes the form of an original sculpture "The Spirit of Courage" and an educational bursary of �10,000.
Speaking to the "Herald" from Dublin on Tuesday just hours before receiving the award, Roisin spoke of her "guilt" because of the "so many many wonderful and good people who will not be recognised for their help.
"I really feel that I don't deserve this award because there were so many people there helping. Those people may never be heard of and will not be recognised for their efforts.
"I just represent the many people that rendered assistance on the 15th of August
That day recalled Roisin was the day she thought it was "the end of the world."
"It was my experience and training that helped me to go out and assist people. I went and got my bandages and equipment and someone called me to help. They had a superficial injury.
"When I went out on the street it was just one casualty after another. I assisted the injured and dying."
Roisin, who is no longer an active member of the Order but who is still involved, teaching first aid classes, admitted "First aid just went out the window that day. The main aim was to get people to hospital as quickly as possible."
Roisin lost some of her good and close friends in the Real IRA bombing and recalls "I was everywhere on the street that day and I did not recognise the people I was treating. It was not until afterwards that I realised who the people were."
Roisin's nomination for the Securicor Courage Award by the Order came as a shock to her.
She said "It all came as a big shock to me and at the minute I am very nervous about receiving it."
John O' Grady of the judging panel said they had selected Roisin not alone for her immense contribution "on that awful day in August, but also as a representative for all of the voluntary services that had done so much on that day without any thought to their own safety."
The award recognises her 'courage and outstanding service in administering to the casualties and comforting their relatives in the aftermath of the Omagh bomb explosion.'
Roisin was nominated for the award by the Order of Malta noting her 'courage and fortitude and discipline in providing outstanding service in the most difficult of conditions'.
Roisin has nominated two schools, which help autistic children, as the beneficiaries of her �10,000 bursary.
The schools she has chosen are St Agnes' Day Care Centre in Donegal Town and Cranny School in Omagh.
The education of autistic children is a cause close to her heart. She has a three and a half year old grand nephew who is autistic.
She explained "I think it is really important that autistic children are given the opportunity to be educated. There is not enough money available for their education.
"If they are educated very young they can grow up to be independent. I think that from age three to seven children should be educated as much as possible.
"By giving the bursary to the two schools it will help to raise awareness of autism."
The Dromore born and educated woman has been with the Order of Malta Ambulance Corps in Omagh since 1965 and has served the community in a voluntary capacity, both as a first aider and also as a home care assistant.
Never were her skills more necessary or more evident than on the afternoon of August 15th.
While Roisin plays down her role, friends and the people of Omagh are quick to recognise the major contribution she made on that afternoon- a contribution that built on all she has done in the area over the past 30 years.
She has had a distinguished career in the Order winning numerous first aid competitions, and taking runner-up in the All-Ireland competition.
She has also received both bronze and silver merit awards from the Order of Malta in Ireland and has been awarded the Cross of Merit from the Sovereign Council in Rome in recognition of her outstanding work in Omagh.
1998 is the eleventh year of the Securicor Courage Award. It was set up in 1987 by Securicor Ireland Ltd to mark 25 years in business.
The awards theme defines courage not just as instinctive acts of courage where people risk their lives to save others, but also the courage to triumph over personal adversity.
This year's Judging Panel consisted of John O' Grady, Chairman, Jennifer McGuinness, Chairperson of the Irish Association for Victim Support, Tom McCaughren of RTE and Bernard Smith, Managing Director of Securicor.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/1709
Published Date: 03-Dec-98
Related Images
