A 999 HOAX caller who forced Limerick emergency responders to launch a rescue operation on the River Shannon, set up an abusive voicemail message aimed at gardai when they tried to contact him back.
Swiftwater Rescue Technicians (SRTs) from the Limerick City Fire and Rescue Service were alerted to a call at around 2:45pm when they were told that a witness say a man entering the water at Thomond Bridge.
As a result of the hoax call, a full scale emergency operation was launched with responses from three units from the Fire and Rescue Service including the rescue boat FireSwift, together with Gardai, emergency paramedics, Limerick Marine Search and Rescue and the Shannon based Irish Coast Guard Helicopter Rescue 115, all attending at the River Shannon.
After a half an hour search of the immediate area and downriver, gardai attempted to establish contact with the caller but they were unsuccessful.
It is believed that an abusive message, aimed at gardai, had been set up on the caller’s voicemail.
Shortly afterwards, all emergency services were stood down and a garda investigation was launched.
It is understood that Gardai are going to use call tracing technology with a view to establishing the identity of the caller and pursue a prosecution.
