A CORK woman’s selfless bravery in leaping into the River Lee to save a drowning person earned her the annual courage award from the Irish security industry yesterday.

Criminal checks are to be carried out on security guards to rid the industry of undesirable elements it emerged today.

The Irish Security Industry Association (ISIA) said the security environment had worsened considerably in recent months, with hostage-taking and several armed attacks on security vans.

THE Government yesterday launched a crackdown on cowboy security firms and thuggish club bouncers.

MIGRANT workers employed to provide security are being forced by their unscrupulous employers to work up to 90 hours a week, it was claimed yesterday.

More than half of Irish security firms have no quality standards, according to a survey commissioned by the Irish Security Industry Association.

NEW legislation could be the end for dangerous and unvetted security guards, a senior industry figure claimed yesterday.

New legislation enacted by the Government could mean the end for unvetted and untrained security guards, it was claimed today.

LEGISLATION aimed at rooting out dodgy operators within the private security industry finally completed its passage through the Dáil yesterday, three years and two months after the bill was first published.

The president of the Irish Security Industry Association has criticised the Minister for Justice over his failure to push the Private Security Services Bill through the Oireachtas.