Limerick man Steve Collins was honoured at the People of the Year Awards tonight in recognition of his refusal to back down from criminal intimidation in the aftermath of his son’s murder.
Mr Collins, whose son Roy was murdered in Limerick earlier this year, was presented with his award by Pat Kenny at a star-studded ceremony in the Citywest Hotel.
Thousands of people took part in a rally in Limerick in May to voice their opposition to criminality following Roy’s death and the bravery shown by his father in his campaign to reclaim the streets from gangland activity.
The Irish rugby team was honoured for its historic Grand Slam victory and a host of other recent successes, with team captain Brian O’Driscoll picking up a surprise award in recognition of his personal achievement and contribution to Irish rugby.
Colm Meaney and Niall Tóibín presented an award to veteran actor David Kelly in recognition of his career on both stage and screen which has spanned over 55 years. He has appeared in countless productions from Strumpet City to Waking Ned and from Fawlty Towers to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
Christine Buckley and Michael O’Brien were both honoured with a People of the Year Award in recognition of their courage, honesty and dignity in campaigning on behalf of the survivors of institutional abuse.
Musician Ronnie Drew received a posthumous People of the Year Award for his role in re-energising Ireland’s musical heritage and for his talent as a musician and vocalist. His son Phelim accepted the award from Phil Coulter.
The other receipients were Bernadette Lanigan who was presented with a Special Award as Nurse of the Year for her work in the eye department in Temple Street Children’s University Hospital.
The Young Person of the Year award went to 20-year-old Sarah Kavanagh who saved the life of her then 12-year-old sister last year after a freak accident on a garage forecourt. Debbie Deegan won the International Person of the Year for her work with abandoned children in Russia’s Bryansk region.
President McAleese presented Slyvia Meehan with an award in recognition of her skill and tenacity in asserting the rights of older people, while Eleanor Thomson was recognized for her extraordinary compassion to a dying man who she met while receiving cancer treatment herself. She eventually became his full-time carer until his death last February.
The Irish Hospice Foundation also won an award for its support and commitment to the development of a comprehensive hospice and palliative care service in Ireland.
