Andrew Carey
HOAX river rescue calls made in the early hours of this Wednesday morning could have put “those in desperate need of help at greater risk”, a former Garda has claimed.
Shortly after 1.15am, Limerick City Fire and Rescue Service received an emergency call claiming that a passerby saw someone fall into the river.
The caller claimed that a person had entered the water “two bridges up from Anglers Walk” in the Rhebogue area.
Three units were dispatched to the scene and following extensive searches in the area, a follow-up call was received claiming that the person entered the water “two bridges up from Sarsfield and Thomond Bridges”.
Swift water rescue swimmers, along with Gardaí and the Limerick Marine Search and Rescue unit, conducted an extensive search the area before it was determined that it was a false alarm with malicious intent.
All emergency service responders returned to base two hours after searching the main body of the River Shannon and the canals.
Former Garda and local councillor Sean Lynch said that hoax calls could cost lives elsewhere.
“There could be a genuine case of someone in desperate need and the resources are elsewhere responding to a scam
“We have a great team of responders here in Limerick. Then you have some individuals who carry on disgracefully making hoax calls. Two weeks ago, the Limerick Marine Search and Rescue jet ski was stolen and damaged on the rocks near Corbally and people think that this stuff is funny.”
“Individuals playing fun and games with hoax calls is not acceptable when others are crying out for help”, he said.
He added that persons engaging in this “deceitful practice” should be held to account and “named and shamed”.
“Gardaí now have the technology to trace calls and identify the phones used and their locations. Prosecutions should follow for those caught wasting resources like this. They will be found out”, he declared.
