West Cork teens honoured for bravery, compassion and battling illness

A young hero who saved a woman from drowning, a compassionate teenager who had endured much in recent years, and two brothers who have battled against the odds with their health, are among those honoured in the West Cork Garda Youth Awards.

The Garda-organised awards, first established in West Cork 22 years ago, have since been replicated in a number of Garda divisions.

Award winner David O’Neill, 19, from Timoleague, was walking across the bridge in Bandon on St Stephen’s Night last year when he became aware of a distressed young girl. She had climbed up onto the wall of the bridge and the river below was flooded.