Midlands Teenagers Recognised At National Garda Youth Awards

Monday, 6 November 2023 08:57

Photo Credit: Facebook/Garda Síochána Laois Offaly

Ian Flood managed to gain control of his Mother's car as she was having a heart attack.

An Offaly man has been recognised for his "quick thinking and clarity of mind".

Ian Flood was among those honoured at the Garda Youth Awards in Portlaoise on Saturday.

He won a Special Recognition Award for his actions in preventing a crash when his Mother experienced a cardiac arrest while driving Ian to school.

A passing motorist stopped to assist him with CPR but sadly his mother passed away.

Laois Offaly Gardaí paid tribute to the Offaly teenager after he picked up the award:

"None of us can really predict how we might react in a moment of panic that requires quick-thinking and clarity of mind.

That’s what Ian Flood was faced with as his mum, Julia was driving him to school one morning. Julia was experiencing a cardiac arrest while behind the wheel and was unable to keep control of the vehicle. With Ian’s rapid response, he brought the car under control and prevented a potentially serious road traffic collision. Ian carried his Mam from the vehicle for CPR to be safely performed. Tragically however, his Mum Julia passed away that morning.

This must have been a deeply traumatic loss and in such upsetting circumstances yet Ian has gone on to achieve great things including attaining his full drivers licence after passing on the first attempt. He now goes to great efforts to promote road safety.

His family, friends and all of us here today have every reason to be uplifted by his strength of character and ability to keep going."

Meanwhile, Ailis Malone won the 'Individual Award'.

Laois Offaly Gardaí say she "has been inspiring people all her young life by demonstrating that it is possible to live a rich and full life with disability and beyond limitation. Since 2020, Ailis has been an important voice on the Youth Advisory Panel with the Ombudsman for Children.

She is a strong and passionate advocate for inclusion and disability, regularly speaking publicly of the importance of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. In fact, she has even had the honour of speaking before the United Nations Committee – something that very, very few can say.

Ailis also works with Offaly Comhairle na nÓg, raising disability awareness through workshops and a podcast for local schools.

Ailis has a real passion for life and is a fun-loving young woman with a long list of hopes and dreams that we look forward to seeing her go on to tick off one by one while opening doors for other people in the future."

There were a total of 25 awards handed out on Saturday evening to young people aged 13 to 21 who have positively contributed to their community.

The event took place in the Midlands Park Hotel in Portlaoise