Marinewatch receive Lifesaving Award for outstanding service
SUICIDE PREVENTION group Wexford Marinewatch was honoured by the Lifesaving Foundation at an event in Wexford County Council, which was attended by the new Garda Commissioner, Drew Harris.
About 150 people attended the event which was a celebration of the great work carried out by organisation in the six years since its inception.
Marinewatch was first established in December 2012 with the aim of preventing instances of drownings in the Wexford quay and harbour area. They received an Outstanding Achievement Award from the foundation on the night.
The Gardai played a large role in the evening: the first such award from the Lifesaving Foundation was presented to An Garda Siochana over 25 years ago, while two of Wexford Marinewatch’s founder members are gardai - Garda Superintendent (designate) Denis Whelan, and Garda Neil Murphy.
Commissioner Harris, on what was his first visit to Wexford in an official capacity, congratulated the organisation for their hard work and dedication, voicing his particular delight that members of the local gardai played such a pivotal role in it.
Cllr George Lawlor, as chairman of the group, paid tribute to all volunteers, especially acknowledging founder member Frank Flanagan who had done tremendous work when it came to setting up the group.
A group from Waterford Institute of Technology presented findings from surveys and research they had carried out on drownings. Refreshments were served after the ceremony.