Trio given thank you card for ‘saving’ lives of special needs children

Trio given thank you card for ‘saving’ lives of special needs children

30 March 2016

THREE council workers who raised the alarm after spotting two young girls walking unaccompanied along a busy road in Downpatrick have been praised for the key role they played in ensuring they were returned home safely.

The parents of one of the primary school aged girls — both of whom have learning difficulties — sent a card to refuse collection staff James McCreesh, Mark Domican and Barry Rogan, thanking them for what they did.

The parents said there were “not enough thank you’s in the world” and that without the men’s response, they “dread to think what could have happened to the two girls.” 

The message on the card adds: “You have saved the lives of two girls, both of whom have learning difficulties and did not know the danger they had put themselves in. Both girls are home safe with their families, thanks to you.” 

The incident happened last October but details are only emerging now. On a particularly wet day, the council bin men were on their way to Killough via Ardglass after finishing a collection round at the Model Farm estate when they spotted the girls.

“It was around 9.30am,” recalled James. “We initially saw two people in the distance and remarked about them being outside in such poor weather. As we got closer, we realised it was two children, both of whom were wearing coats.

“We had a conversation among ourselves about what to do because we knew the girls should not have been there. We were going to stop but were afraid to. The girls were approaching the end of the footpath at the Ardglass Road at this stage.

“I believed I recognised one of them as a friend of my daughter and contacted my wife so she could alert the school they attend. When we reached Killough we were so worried that I contacted my wife again and was relieved to hear the girls had been found. 

“It appears they headed back towards the Ardglass Road roundabout and made their way along the Struell Wells Road close to the Downe Hospital where they were found.”

James said the bin crew was pleased to hear the girls were safe and well and that the story had a happy ending. He said the principal of the school the girls attend also got in touch to thank them.

James added: “The mother of one of the girls lives along one of our collection runs and I subsequently introduced myself to her and explained that it was our crew which raised the alarm.

“She sent us a lovely card and was very grateful for what we did. As a parent, you become very worried when you see two girls on their own. We are just so glad they were found and that there was a happy ending.”