Fire fighters remember their fallen colleagues
MEMBERS of Wicklow Fire service remembered their late colleagues Brian Murray and Mark O’Shaughnessy last Saturday, with wreath-laying ceremonies at Bray Fire Station and at a monument at Father Collohan Terrace.
The flag at Greystones Fire Station also flew at half mast in memory of sub station officer Brian Murray (46) and fire fighter Mark O’Shaughnessy (26).
Family members attended the short ceremony at Fr Colohan Tce, at the site of a monument to the two heroes.
Addressing those gathered, Deputy John Brady said it was hard to believe it has been 13 years since Bray lost two of its heroes, adding that Brian and Mark made the ultimate sacrifice in defence of the community.
‘It’s important that the huge sacrifice the two guys made is never ever forgotten,’ said Deputy Brady.
‘A lot has been said over the last 13 years,’ he said. ‘There have been a lot of changes over the last 13 years, but it’s hard to say if the changes have been for the better. Certainly as I see our fire service here in the town and right across the state, it’s probably in a worse situation than it was 13 years ago. There are massive issues in terms of recruitment, massive issues in terms of retention within the retained service. These are all of the issues that the two guys and their colleagues in the fire service highlighted before they made the ultimate sacrifice.’ Deputy Brady said that it was Brian Murray who had led a walk-out of Bray Fire Station to highlight issues, only a short time before he passed away.
‘It’s important we remember all of that. More importantly, we need to send out a clear message to the powers that be that the faults within the fire service need to be rectified. There needs to be root and branch reform from the top of the retained fire service to bring it in to this century. Because we have fire fighters with their hands tied behind their backs before they actually get inside a fire engine, battling traffic to get to a fire station, not knowing if they will have a full crew or not.
‘So we need to remember all the sacrifices, but so do the people at the top who preside over this service which is not fit for purpose. As we gather here today to remember Brian and Mark, I think it’s poignant that the legacy that they leave will be an improved fire service for the entire community. Not just here in north Wicklow but across the entire state.
‘This is a sad day for everyone,’ he said. ‘But it’s a proud day. It’s important to be proud of Brian and Mark, everything they achieved and everything that they stand for. We will continue to gather here year on year to remember them, and all of our frontline workers particularly at this time.’
Mark and Brian lost their lives on the morning of September 26, 2007, while fighting a blaze at a disused factory at Adelaide Villas.
Fire crews from all over the county paid tribute to the two men at Bray Fire Station, where the Irish flag hung at half-mast.
Two firemen laid down floral wreaths on plinths as they remembered their late colleagues in silence.
Wicklow Fire Service tweeted: ‘Fire fighters from around the country training in Bray, joined fire crews from Bray, Greystones and other Wicklow stations at a ceremony to mark the 13th anniversary of the passing of Sub Officer Brian Murray and firefighter Mark O’Shaughnessy - Ar Dheis De go raibh n-anamacha.’