1A Garda has been hailed a hero after helping to prevent a late-night tragedy from taking place in the north-west.
Garda Padraic Deery dived into the Garavogue river in Sligo after a woman was seen being swept a few hundred metres by fast tides.
Gda Deery managed to reach the woman and with the assistance of his colleague, Garda TJ Gallagher, successfully brought her to safety.
A number of nightclub bouncers were also involved in the rescue by sending life rings into the water, which was fast flowing due to earlier rain. Gda Gallagher was then later involved in another rescue involving a separate male.
It’s the third time in a matter of weeks Gardaí in Sligo have saved lives at the river.
Chief Superintendent Michael Clancy commended Gardaí for their bravery and said their actions no doubt resulted in lives being saved.
Ray Wims, north-western executive member of the Garda Representative Association (GRA), said the rescue operations illustrated the type of work front-line officers did on a daily basis.
“Thankfully, no loss of life occurred during these rescue operations,” Garda Wims told the Irish Independent.
“We are very proud of Gda Deery and Gda Gallagher. It is indicative of their commitment to their jobs and their communities. The conditions were particularly dangerous as there had been a lot of heavy rain.”
A number of potential tragedies at the Garavogue river were averted last month due to the actions of Gardaí and local people. If you have been affected by the issues raised in this article please contact the Samaritans on 116123 for support or visit www.samaritans.org. Pieta House can be contacted on 1800 247 247.
