MEMBERS OF THE Boyne Fishermen’s Rescue and Recovery Service said they were shocked yesterday to discover three life rings along the river Boyne had been burnt out by vandals.
Speaking to TheJournal.ie, crew member Sean Cahill said it was ”more mindless vandalism” adding that it was not the first time the life rings situated along the walkway at Mell in Drogheda had been damaged.
“The three valuable life-saving ring boys had been deliberately set on fire and rendered completely useless,” he said, adding that in the past damage had been caused to them where people had removed them and thrown them into the river.
However, he said this time, the three life-rings have been completely destroyed.
Saving lives
“The life rings are there for a reason – to save lives,” he said, adding that as summer approaches it is important to have these life rings along waterways so that passersby can come to the aid of someone in difficulty if needed.
“Life rings play a very valuable part in water safety, they act as a constant visible reminder of the danger that the river environment represents. They are intended to be used to effect a rescue of any person who may find themselves in distress,” said Cahill.
Last December, a 13-year-old boy who fell in to the river was rescued when a member of the public threw a life ring to him.
“People tampering with life rings are ultimately putting someone’s life at risk, maybe even their own.”
He said the “mindless vandals need to be reported as the large financial cost of replacing the life rings will be ultimately borne by the taxpayers and ratepayers,” he said.
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