A senior PSNI officer who suffered life-changing injuries after being shot by the New IRA said he feels “honoured” after being presented with the King’s Police Medal.
Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell received the honour from the Princess Royal at Buckingham Palace on Thursday.
Mr Caldwell had been named in the King’s Birthday Honours list in June.
The officer was targeted outside a leisure centre in Omagh on February 22, 2023. He spent several weeks in intensive care and says he is still recovering from his injuries.
Speaking after Thursday’s ceremony, Mr Caldwell said: “I’m feeling very happy, feel very privileged, feel very honoured to be – firstly nominated – and then to receive such a very nice medal from the King.
“I’ve been impacted, obviously, the attack upon me: I was shot nine times.
“I’m still recovering from those injuries.
“But the recovery is going very well. That’s thanks to the medical teams and thanks to the support from family and friends and from my wife and my son.
He added: “(The) Princess Royal was very aware of who I was and very aware of the incident that I came through, and just wished me very well.”
Mr. John Caldwell, Detective Chief Inspector, Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), is decorated with the King’s Police Medal by the Princess Royal at Buckingham Palace. Photo: Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire