A Kilkeel man who was killed alongside three colleagues when their police vehicle crashed near Warrenpoint has been named as a recipient of the Elizabeth Emblem.
Kenny Irvine’s family is one of 34 from Northern Ireland who will receive the posthumous award, which acknowledges the ultimate sacrifice of public servants. News of this honour to commemorate Mr Irvine was announced on Friday.
The honour scheme, launched last year and conferred by King Charles, recognises the sacrifices of police officers, firefighters, and other public servants who died in the line of duty.
Mr Irvine, a 30-year-old Part-Time Constable, was killed alongside Constables James Magee from Newcastle, Kevin Gorman from Drumaness, and fellow Part-Time Constable Declan Greene from Ballymartin. The men, who were based at Kilkeel PSNI Station, were responding to an emergency call from colleagues when their Mitsubishi Shogun struck a wall during the early hours of November 23, 2008.
The tragic incident marked the single biggest loss of life in a single event for the PSNI since its formation in 2001.
In addition to Mr Irvine, the recipients of the Elizabeth Emblem also include a man from Crossgar who was killed in 1985, and a woman who spent time teaching at Kilkeel High School before joining the PSNI.
