PSNI Officer Awarded Queen's Gallantry Medal For Bravery

Sergeant Mark Wright has been awarded the Queen's Gallantry Medal for bravery following his action during a violent incident in Lurgan in February 2012.

PSNI officers responded to a report of a man who was "dangerously out of control" at a house in the town. When Sergeant Wright responded he found that the man, who was armed with two knives, had assaulted a woman at the house, before locking himself inside with the woman and two young children.

Realising the seriousness of the situation Sergeant Wright attempted to force entry. He was then stabbed by the man and suffered serious head wounds.

Despite his injuries, Sergeant Wright wrestled with the man, who also tried to stab his colleague in the throat. Trying to prevent injury to anyone else, Sergeant Wright apprehended the man and handcuffed him.

Although seriously wounded, Sergeant Wright's actions ensured the safety of two young children, the woman and his two colleagues. The man was arrested, charged and subsequently sentenced to seven years in prison.

Sergeant Wright said: "I am extremely humbled and honoured to have been nominated for the Queen's Gallantry Medal. Our job as police officers is to protect lives and to keep people safe and on that night in question I was only doing my job protecting the individuals within the house.

"I will be accepting this award on behalf of all my colleagues within the Police Service of Northern Ireland as this was a team effort."

South Area Co-Ordinator, Chief Superintendent Alywin Barton also said: "I am hugely proud of Sergeant Wright and his colleagues. They have been recognised for their heroism and bravery.

"Sergeant Wright put his life in real danger and doing so protected and indeed saved the lives of others."

The Queen's Gallantry Medal is awarded for exemplary acts of bravery with just over one thousand medals being awarded since its inception in 1974.

(MH/CD)