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JUNIOR MINISTER KEVIN ‘Boxer’ Moran has been praised for his efforts to contain escalating floods after he was filmed topless and knee-deep in water in Co Westmeath.
The outgoing minister of state for the Office of Public Works and Flood Relief has been in various towns and villages throughout the county as authorities and residents have battled rising river levels since Sunday.
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Homes and businesses in parts of Westmeath, Offaly and Roscommon have been hit by floods as the River Shannon continued to rise following heavy rain.
Moran posted a video on Twitter showing him attempting to fix a water pump in Athlone while dressed in waders.
He told the camera: “That’s it – job done. F***** wet though. I nearly got sick with the smell of it. There’s one sure thing, she won’t kiss me tonight.”
He also wrote on Twitter alongside the video: “Got a bit wet this morning trying to get a pump going down at the back of Parnell Square.
“No spare set of clothes but the people are protected – that’s the main thing.”
Several people hailed Moran in response to his tweet, describing him as a “hero” and a “legend”.
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Flood victims in an Offaly village feel forgotten and 'never really considered in the first place'
One posted: “Fair play to him. He lost his seat and he still helping the people. Not many TDs would do that.”
It comes as Met Éireann issued an orange weather warning for seven counties for more severe weather this weekend.
Storm Jorge is forecast to bring gusts of up to 130km/h and flooding in Clare, Galway, Mayo, Kerry, Donegal, Leitrim and Sligo.
The warning is valid from Saturday morning until 3am on Sunday.
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If the boat was licensed to carry that amount of passengers than it should have adequate life rafts and life jackets aboard. Hopefully they had time to get off safely before boat capsized.
@Skipper Mac: Everyone was wearing a life jacket and if they got on a life boat they may have drifted. If they all got off before it sank they have a chance of being found but no chance being alive if just in cold waters after 8 hours and not a life raft
The captain sounds like a total flute. Ran them aground in shallow waters before, and now ignored calls to not go out, while passing all the fishing boats returning to shore coz it wasn’t safe. Went on ahead anyway. He should’ve been sacked long ago, and now he’s responsible for 26 people dying. The tour company need to get investigated big time. Might’ve been them who told him to plough on ahead coz they didn’t wanna issue refunds,
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