19/09/2002

Bravery medal awarded to Prison Service by Princess Anne

Princess Anne has presented a medal to the Head of the Northern Ireland Prison Service for the bravery shown by its members during the troubles.

The Princess made the presentation during a special ceremony in the gardens of Hillsborough Castle following a speech by Peter Russell, Director General of the Northern Ireland Prison Service. She presented the unnamed medal on behalf of the Northern Ireland Prison Service to Officer William O’Prey.

In addition, Miss Mabel Hempton, a former prison officer who was severely injured in a terrorist attack in April 1979, also received her medal from Her Royal Highness.

Earlier in the day, the Princess attended the drug awareness and support centre in Dungannon called Breakthru. The centre, which develops and facilitates awareness programmes and counselling for young people and parents, launched its latest ClubEd-Ecstasy Education Package on the same day as the Princess's visit.

There she met Parent/Adults Co-ordinator Mary Houlahan, who conducted a short multi-media presentation on the Breakthru Project, as well as members of the Dungannon Development Association and the Breakthru Youth Forum.

The final public engagement of Princess Anne’s visit was to perform an investiture for a number of Northern Ireland recipients of awards.

(MB)

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