A POLICEMAN who was stabbed in the head while saving a woman and her two children from a violent man is to be honoured for his bravery.
PSNI sergeant Mark Wright, based in Banbridge, is to receive the Queen's Gallantry Medal after he tackled the man while responding to an emergency call in Kilwilkie estate in Lurgan, Co Armagh, in February 2012.
The man, described by police as "dangerously out of control" had attacked the woman then locked himself into the house with two very young children.
Mr Wright tried to get into the house but was stabbed by the man, who was armed with two knives.
Despite suffering severe head injuries, Mr Wright wrestled with the man, who also tried to stab another officer in the throat, and managed to arrest and handcuff him.
The man was later sentenced to seven years in jail for the attack.
The officer said he was "humbled and honoured" to have been nominated for the 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," he said.
"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."
Chief Superintendent Alwyn Barton said she was "hugely proud" of Mr Wright and his colleagues.
"Sergeant Wright put his life in real danger and doing so protected and indeed saved the lives of others," she said.
