Tipperary brother and sister awarded for bravery in saving their younger brother's life

A Tipperary brother and sister have been awarded for bravery at the Oireachtas National Bravery Awards 2022 in Farmleigh House Dublin, having saved their brothers life.

Micheál Bourke and Katie Butler Haughney from Tipperary rescued their brother Daniel from a waterhole on February 11, 2020 - he was just two at the time and had gone missing and was later discovered, by his brother, head first in a hole which was approximately 4 foot deep and full of muddy water.

There had been heavy snow in the area and the extent of the hole had been hidden. His brother Micheál, who was 9 years old at the time attempted to pull him out of the water but due to the weight of Daniel’s saturated clothes he was unable to do so. His sister, Katie Butler Haughney, who was 14 at the time succeeded in pulling him out. The toddler was blue and lifeless and was carried into the house where his mother started doing compressions.

After 20 minutes of CPR, he started to breathe again and colour began to return to his face. The little boy was taken to an ambulance and from there, lifted by helicopter to Limerick Regional Hospital, where he eventually made a full recovery.

For their efforts Micheál Bourke and Katie Butler Haughney are each awarded a Bronze Medal.

Picture above shows Garda Kieran Donovan with his wife Breda who received a bronze medal at the Oiireachtas National Bravery awards.

Also honoured on the day for saving a man from a motorway bridge was Garda Kieran Donovan from Tipperary. On the morning of 16 July 2018, Gardaí responded to a report of a man, who appeared to be extremely distressed and emotional, standing on the outer rail of a motorway flyover bridge. It was an approx. 20-25 metre drop to the motorway below.

Garda Donovan climbed out onto the side of the bridge rail to talk to the man and to help get him to return in off the ledge. The man eventually agreed to walk off the ledge with Garda Donovan and received medical attention and aid immediately.

For his efforts Garda Kieran Donovan was awarded a bronze medal.