J.T. MCNAMARA, who died in July from injuries sustained in a fall at Cheltenham three years ago, was the posthumous recipient of the biennial Shannon Group Media Merit award at the Mid-West Press Ball recently.

The award was accepted by his widow Caroline from Minister for Finance Michael Noonan and Shannon Group chairperson Rose Hynes. J.T. was chosen for the award for the heroism he showed in battling injuries following his horrific fall.

Receiving the award at the Limerick Strand Hotel, as reported by the Limerick Post, Caroline McNamara said: “We as a family are evidence of the incredible work that charities do.

“My mother and I - I say my mother as she was my and John’s backbone of support - can put our hands on our heart and say that we did everything we could for John, to keep him at home and give him some quality of life. We have no regrets.

“We were able to do this because of the fund raising and support that we received form the public and we will always be humbled and grateful for that. I just hope that the public will continue to give to charities so that others like us can get the type of support we did.

“Quite simply, John would never have been able to return home and live out his life with us, his family, were it not for the support of others.”