Louth councillor urges zero tolerance for removal of life buoys

Cllr Antóin Watters has condemned the removal of a life buoy in Carlingford in north Louth over the weekend, and has said that there should be zero tolerance for such actions.

The Dundalk-Carlingford councillor was commenting after footage of the incident was shared on social media, which showed a man at Carlingford harbour, removing a life buoy from its holder and handing it to another man, with him being urged by others in the group to throw it over the wall.

Cllr Watters told the Dundalk Democrat that he wanted to condemn the incident, saying "I know it seemed like a very small act and mightn't be that important but look, unfortunately anything that touches any safety apparatus, especially along the shore, cannot be tolerated. That needs to be there and available for people to use if it's needed.

The Sinn Féin councillor continued: "I know it's the second time in recent years where something like this has happened, back in February 2022, the life buoy was damaged when it was thrown across the wall into the pier. So obviously we don't want to see things like this happen, I know the lads may not have meant any badness by it, but it has to be zero tolerance for this because if someone was there [in the water] and that lifebuoy wasn't there to save them, it doesn't bear thinking.

Cllr Watters added, "I know its the anniversary of Ruth Maguire when she died in March 2019, so it was quite poignant that it was the same dates", referring to the death of the mother of three who drowned after falling off the pier in Carlingford.

Condemning the incident and urging people to pay due care when in the village, Cllr Watters further added, "I totally condemn it and I would ask for people to respect the safety equipment, and the whole village of Carlingford when they come to visit. Go and enjoy your St Patrick's weekend, there's no issue about that, but just do it without annoying the local people or touching any of the safety equipment."

Cllr Andrea McKevitt, who is Chairperson of the Louth Water Safety Committee, has also strongly condemned the incident, expressing grave concern over the matter. "The ring buoy, a critical piece of life-saving equipment, and is placed in public areas along the coast to assist in emergencies and prevent potential drownings", she told the Dundalk Democrat. "Its misuse, as seen in the video, puts lives at risk and undermines the efforts of the community to ensure the safety of all individuals near water.

Cllr McKevitt continued: “We are deeply disturbed by the actions in this video. The ring buoy is a vital life-saving tool that should never be treated as a toy or used recklessly. We urge everyone to remember that these pieces of equipment are there for a very important purpose—to save lives in the event of an emergency. Misusing them could delay a rescue and, in the worst case, lead to unnecessary harm or loss of life.”

The Fianna Fáil councillor said that the Louth Water Safety Committee is calling for greater public awareness around the proper use of water safety equipment, and encourages individuals to report any instances of misuse. Additionally, she said, efforts will be made to further educate the community on the importance of water safety and the critical role of equipment like ring buoys.

“We ask everyone to take responsibility and show respect for public safety measures. Our community’s safety depends on all of us working together. If you see anyone tampering with life-saving equipment, please report it immediately to the authorities,” added Cllr McKevitt. "The Louth Water Safety Committee remains committed to promoting safe practices near the water and ensuring that all life-saving equipment remains in place for when it is needed most."