Donkey rescue boys trapped on flood island

TWO boys attempting to reach stranded livestock on a fast-flowing river in Wexford were at the centre of a rescue drama.

After wading into the overflowing Slaney River where three donkeys and seven horses were stranded on a flood-created island in Enniscorthy, the boys became trapped.

Fire brigade, gardaí and the Slaney Shore and Sea Rescue were alerted on Wednesday night by local members of the countywide Wexford Society of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

A spokesperson for the group, Bridget Cullen, said yesterday: “We were monitoring the plight of the animals. The water was over the donkeys’ bellies. We were concerned the animals had not eaten and we had warned a person, believed to be the owner of the donkeys and horses, of the impending floods. We were concerned when the kids went onto the island. We had floodlights on them because the wire, which surrounded the land, was already under water. It was touch and go getting the kids off the island as they became stranded.

“In the meantime, the donkeys retreated up the river. Fortunately, the Slaney sea rescue crew managed to get nuts and carrots out to them and we floated over bales of hay. It was a distressing sight for the last day or two watching the donkeys without food. It was just too dangerous for us to reach the animals due to the high floods.”

Meanwhile, the dangerous condition of the Slaney River forced the local sea rescue unit to call a halt, yesterday, to a three-week search for three missing people.

The rescue volunteers were also recalled to their quayside base where thousands of euro in damages were caused to equipment and the floor of the building.

Meanwhile, a major clean-up of flood-hit premises continued yesterday in many centres, particularly in Cork and Kilkenny. A €34m flood relief scheme, partly completed, on the River Nore failed to safeguard riverside residents in Kilkenny. Angry property holders along John’s Quay, convinced flooding was a thing of the past, last night remained on alert.

Meanwhile, frantic residents and businesses in Cork’s flood-devastated Blackpool area were yesterday awaiting the arrival of insurance assessors for the second time in eight days. A firm figure could not be put on Wednesday’s flood damage in the city neighbourhood but estimates put the cost in excess of €500,000.

A residents association in Blackpool demanded an improved flood defence system. Sandbags remained in place yesterday as fearful residents counted the cost of losses.

The area’s politicians are expected to demand answers on suspected water drainage flaws which may have contributed to the double catastrophe for the Northside residents and businesses.