New CEO of emergency response service received highest honour for Grenfell volunteer role

NEW community responder groups are to be established in Cork, Limerick, and other locations by the emergency response charity Critical, which confirmed the appointment of its new CEO this week.

The new chief executive, David Tighe, volunteered with the British Red Cross Fire and Emergency Support Service for four years and received the Dunant Award for attending the Grenfell Tower fire in June 2017.

He has also served as a volunteer emergency responder with the Irish Coast Guard.

A former CEO and programme director at Limerick’s Live 95, Mr Tighe described his appointment as an honour.

He said that he is committed to expanding the service’s network of emergency responders to even more communities across Ireland.

“It is most effective when the emergency services, critical care doctors, and first responders work closely together,” he said.

“The care a person receives in the minutes after they fall ill or get seriously injured can ultimately be the difference between life and death.

“It’s incredible to see the impact that volunteer responders can have in an emergency.

“I saw it in Grenfell, and we witnessed it in Creeslough when our volunteer doctors raced to the scene.

“Every day, our volunteers are responding to cardiac arrests, collisions, and other life-threatening emergencies.

“Their equipment is entirely funded by donations and fundraisers carried out by the public.”

The charity is now based in Croom, Limerick, having been based in Rathcoole, North Cork, since 2009. It had been operating the helicopter emergency response service and such was its success that the service is funded by the State.

The charity has established a Community First Responder group in Limerick and plans to add additional groups this year.