'A life is more important than money' - real fears over potential Kilkenny tragedies
The removal of lifebuoys could lead to 'fatalities' in Kilkenny, Cllr Joe Malone has warned
A local councillor has issued a strong appeal to members of the public to stop removing lifebuoys from their designated outdoor cabinets, warning that such actions could have serious and potentially fatal consequences.
Local Fianna Fáil councillor, Joe Malone has appealed to offenders to 'cop on', describing the removal of the life-saving device as 'petty and ridiculous'.
According to the former mayor of the city, at least nine lifebuoys have been removed over the last week, each having to be replaced at a cost of €55 each.
"They have to be replaced every time with the rope as well, if the rope is gone, that’s more money again," Cllr Malone told Kilkenny Live.
"I can't say who’s doing it, I don’t know but it’s just petty and ridiculous.
"Money is money but at the end of the day, a life is more important than money so just leave them alone," he continued.
"The unauthorised removal of lifebuoys has become an all too familiar issue for Cllr Malone since he entered local politics in 2009.
"I think the last council spent €450 on lifebuoys being replaced in the river over a period of seven days," he claimed.
"I walk down that way (by the river) nearly every day and I noticed it one of the days. I copped one (lifebuoy) swinging over a tree and a chap came on the scene with me and we tried to retrieve it but we couldn’t," Cllr Malone explained.
"In the meantime, the tree fell down with the wind probably and the lifebuoy was caught underneath the tree," he recalled, recounting spotting more lifebuoys in similar condition along the Canal and Lacken walkways.
Mr Malone praised the repeated response of staff from the Environmental Section of Kilkenny County Council to re-install life buoys and has the public to play their part and 'cop on'.
"You’re not going to check to see if you're a lifebuoy around you first but then if something happens then you go looking for the lifebuoy and the lifebuoy is gone. That’s the tragedy of it," the city councillor remarked.
"If somebody jumps into the river to save somebody, you could have two fatalities and there’s no sense to it," he added.
"We’re coming into the good weather and people need to show more cop on. Have a bit more sense because no one will ever know the day or the hour when you need one of those.
"If you’re walking down the river and if you see something untoward, you should report it," he added.
"People should be vigilant and don’t be afraid to challenge them (the culprits) or if you don’t want to challenge them, that’s all right too. Get the gardaí on to them."