Bondi Junction heroes receive bravery honours two years on from massacre

When asked about her heroic actions during the Bondi Junction massacre two years ago, Catherine Ann Molihan modestly replied that she “did what any nurse would do.”

Ms Molihan recalls sitting in a café in Bondi Junction Westfield at around 3.30pm on Saturday, April 13, 2024, when she heard screams and panicked footsteps behind her.

During Joel Cauchi’s hunting knife attack that left six people dead, Ms. Molihan barricaded herself in a nearby shop with six others until she spotted two men outside needing medical attention.

“I could see two men, one sitting and the other on the floor,” said Ms Molihan, a senior nurse with more than 25 years’ experience.

“I asked the shop owner to open the door. He said, ‘No, I’m not letting you in again.’ I told him, ‘I don’t care, let me out so I can help those guys.'”

Ms Molihan instructed the first man to apply pressure to his wounds using a T-shirt before turning her attention to the second man, who suffered critical injuries.

“We pulled out the second man by dragging him by his feet, whatever was underneath him,” he said.

“He was bleeding and I held his head and talked to him – comforting things to say to someone who is critically ill.

“I don’t know how long it took for the ambulance to arrive and intervene.”

Ms Molihan is one of eight people, two of whom died, who were awarded medals of bravery by the Governor-General for their “gallantry, compassion and service” on the day of the massacre.

The recipients included Detective Inspector Amy Louise Scott, the police officer who shot Cauchi, security guards Muhammad Taha and the late Faraz Tahir; Silas Despréaux, Damien Jean Guerot and Ashlee Good, who died protecting her little daughter.

Ms Molihan and Noel McLaughlin, who lost her husband Jade Young in the attack, were praised for their brave actions.

While Ms Molihan was “humbled” by the gesture, she said the award was “shrouded in great sadness”.

“It just means I’m being congratulated for the work I do as a nurse,” she said.

“There are thousands of people doing this every day.

“To be honest, this praise doesn’t mean much to me.

“It brings up the sadness of what happened to those innocent people that day… I’m trying to put that behind me.”

This recognition also brings with it complex emotions for Mr. McLaughlin. Mr McLaughlin recalls the killer confronting Cauchi as he stood just three feet away and held the knife towards him.

“I don’t even know how to classify my emotion towards (the praise),” Mr. McLaughlin said.

“I guess I’m grateful.

“When I confronted him I realized he had a knife in his hand and there was nothing I could do with it.

“Just ‘What are you doing?’ I said. and then I put two and two together showing that he stabbed Jade.

“I’m really grateful for how everyone stepped in and supported us after the event, it changed the course of our lives.”

Security guards Muhammad Taha and Faraz Tahir also confronted the killer in an attempt to save others; both were stabbed in the stomach by Cauchi.

Mr Taha dedicates his medal for bravery to his colleague Mr Tahir, who died from his wounds, and to all those who opposed Cauchi that day.

“The pain and suffering I encountered that day probably changed my life,” Mr. Taha said.

“We came face to face with the attacker. Those few seconds to confront the attacker were really hard work, we did the best job we could to save people.”

“I am very honored to receive this award.

“If I had to face that moment again, I would make the same choice because there is something bigger than fear in life.

“If given the chance, I will definitely try to help the community in the future.”

Mr. Tahir’s elder brother, Muzafar Ahmad, said that Faraz was like a son to him after the death of his parents.

“I am really proud of Faraz for his courage,” Mr Ahmad said.

“He was a brave man, as he was in his childhood. He stood up to Joel Cauchi.”

In addition to Young Hanım, İyi Hanım and Tahir Bey; Dawn Singleton, Yixuan Cheng and Pikria Darchia were killed in the attack.

During the investigation into the murders, it was heard that Cauchi, who suffered from severe schizophrenia, was suffering from an acute episode of psychosis at the time of the stabbings.