Firefighter's career 'marked by bravery, resilience, and a lifelong commitment to supporting others'

AN Omagh man who has dedicated 30 years of service as a firefighter was named 'Emergency Personnel of the Year'.

The award, sponsored by Cuba Clothing, was presented to Paddy Quinn by John Edgar at the inaugural Pride of Tyrone Awards.

Paddy first started out in June 1995, serving as a part-time firefighter at the time of the Omagh bombing in 1998.

He was one of the first responders on the scene, displaying exceptional courage and professionalism during one of the most devastating incidents in the town’s history.

Following his frontline service, he became a wholetime firefighter in February 2000 and has continued to support the Fire Service by becoming a trained Critical Incident Stress Management facilitator for the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS).

This is psychological first aid and peer support to assist firefighters in dealing with incidents that have the potential to cause an emotional traumatic stress reaction.

In 2023 he was Station Commander of Omagh District and is currently temporary Group Commander at the NIFRS Learning and Development College in Cookstown.

Paddy has also trained firefighters in Uganda.

"His career is marked by bravery, resilience, and a lifelong commitment to supporting others," a citation accompanying his nomination said.