Deceased firemen - So often taken for granted...

Two courageous firemen perished yesterday while fighting a fire in their home town of Bray, Co Wicklow.

They were carrying out their duties in a fearless manner. We honour Brian Murray and Mark O’Shaughnessy and proffer our profound sympathies to their loved ones.

This tragedy is a gruesome reminder of the risks that firemen take on behalf of society, and the debt that the public owes to them. All too often that debt is taken for granted, except when the dangers become apparent after such a tragedy.