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Frontline, emergency workers honoured for 'quiet heroism'

Updated / Saturday, 5 Sep 2020 20:21

The Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee, has laid a wreath to remember all those from the emergency and frontline services who have lost their lives.

She was one of 15 people who attended an outdoor, physically distanced ceremony at Collins Barracks in Dublin to mark National Services Day.

The day which honours all frontline and emergency services including gardaí, the fire service, the Coast Guard and RNLI, is putting a particular emphasis on the health services this year.

The National Ambulance Service was represented by Director Martin Dunne who paid tribute to staff who have worked tirelessly for months.

He also acknowledged the families of health service workers, saying: "Families have been a huge support to allow health service workers to do what they're doing and that should also be applauded and recognised."

Seamus O'Neill, Founder and Chairperson of FESSEF, the Frontline Emergency Security Services Eire Forum, which organises the event every year, said It was particularly important this year to honour the contribution of those in the frontline services.

Speaking after the ceremony, Minister for Justice Helen McEntee said it was important to honour those who had put others before themselves and often their health.

Ms McEntee said it is her "deep privilege" to work closely with some of the frontline emergency services, such as An Garda Síochána and the Irish Prison Service.

"I have seen at first hand their tremendous professionalism and dedication, in what can be very challenging circumstances. I am delighted to have the opportunity to publicly thank them and all our emergency services for the quiet heroism of their chosen career."

The minister said the demands placed on our emergency workers have "perhaps never been greater" than this year.

"This has been a frightening and uncertain time for all of us. But our emergency workers - despite any private fears they may have had for themselves or their loved ones - have continued to fully perform their duties and have indeed increased their efforts to support the public. We owe them, and their families, a deep debt of gratitude for their outstanding professionalism, dedication and care," said Ms McEntee.

"Throughout this pandemic and all across Ireland, the women and men of An Garda Síochána have stepped up their engagement with the community and have reached out to those who are in greatest need, alone or afraid.

"And I am conscious our prison staff, including prison officers and medical personnel, have taken extraordinary measures to shield prisoners from the threat of the virus. Theirs is a true spirit of service, which they share with other frontline services, including first responders and health professionals."

Ms McEntee also paid tribute to Detective Garda Colm Horkan, who died in June, saying that he represented the best of An Garda Síochána.

"On this day, I think particularly of Detective Garda Colm Horkan, who tragically lost his life in the service of the State this year. In his selfless commitment to community and country, Detective Horkan represented the very best of An Garda Síochána and indeed of all our frontline services. We remember and honour him today."

Seamus O'Neill, chairman of the National Services Day organising committee, said that while the event was a private ceremony due to Covid-19 restrictions, people could still join in the celebrations. 

Speaking to RTÉ, Mr O'Neill said while things have "drastically changed" this year due to the pandemic, the committee decided to widen the scope of the commemoration and the theme is Remember with Dignity.

The Air Corps carried out a flyover over Dublin at 3pm and Mr O'Neill said he was "delighted" that churches around the country would be ringing their bells at the same time.

Organisers invited motorists to beep their car horns at 3pm. They also encouraged people to come out and clap their hands at their nearest garda station, fire station or RNLI station in a show of solidarity with frontline workers.

Mr O'Neill said the event was about people remembering together and celebrating together.

He said no-one had been left unscathed by Covid-19 and without the general public, this virus would be rampant.

"What we are trying to say today is we are all in it together. We are asking people to celebrate with us and also remember those who have suffered and those who died."

Taoiseach Micheál Martin said National Services Day was a day to say "thank you to all of our emergency frontline workers ... every day these women and men support and protect communities right across our country."

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Colman O'Sullivan