Courageous Lorna hailed for ‘vital role’ in rescue of drowning woman

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.

Lorna Murphy’s actions on May 4 saw her declared the winner of the Irish Security Industry Association’s (ISIA’s) Annual Courage Award but the body alsomoved to honour Justice Minister Michael McDowell’s commitment to security issues.

The ISIA said the minister was named the Premier Award winner “in recognition of his courage, leadership and commitment to national security and the private security industry - and his determination to grasp the very hottest nettles in this context.”

Earlier this year the security industry was embroiled in controversy after almost €5 million (£3.4m) was stolen by an armed gang who held a cash-in-transit worker and his family at gunpoint and hijacked another transit security van.

Past winners of the award have included former SDLP leader John Hume, veteran civil rights campaigner Fr Denis Faul and Jennifer Guinness.

Mr McDowell presented the Annual Courage Award to Ms Murphy from Southern Road in Cork for her vital role in the rescue.

After jumping into the river around 11pm, Ms Murphy kept the person’s head above the water of the River Lee for almost 15 minutes as they were both dragged under the Parnell Bridge with the strong current.

The pair were then rescued from the waters by emergency services.

The ISIA said: “In doing what she did she put her own life at risk by entering the water at night in a dangerous stretch of river. For her vital role in this rescue, her courage and response under pressure, she is presented with the ISIA Courage Award for 2005.”

Les McLindon, ISIA President, said: “These annual awards afford the Irish Security Association an opportunity to give something back to society as well as recognising excellence within our industry - an industry which now employs close to 20,000 people.”

Garda Joe Shields was presented with the ISIA’s Garda Community Excellence Award after the community of Galway nominated him for the award.

The garda was singled out over his community participation, his availability, his ability to get things done and his commitment to young people which exceeded his professional requirements.

Barry Brady, executive director of the ISIA, said: “To read the contents of his nomination from the people of Galway would make any Garda feel proud.”

The Security Officer of the Year award went to Michael Fryer from the Rapier Security Group.