Gardaí forced to use land line to help tourists
There were delays in calling for help when the coach, with 36 passengers, went off the narrow road and turned over on its side on Sunday evening.
Nobody was injured but some of the passengers, who had to climb out of the coach through windows as the door was jammed, were said to be a shocked.
Kerry County Council and gardaí were putting heavy lifting equipment in place last night to get the coach back onto the road.
The wheels of the coach went into a deep drain leaving it wedged against a bank at a severe angle.
Black Valley community group spokesman Noel Kissane said there would have been an awful situation if passengers had suffered serious injuries.
“There’s no mobile phone coverage whatsoever in the valley and the nearest landline was in a house a mile away from the scene. The gardaí had to use the landline phone in the house to get help,” he said.
Last month, An Bord Pleanála refused planning permission for two telecommunications masts that would have provided “mobile” coverage in the valley.
Mr Kissane said local people were incensed at Bord Pleanála’s attitude that put scenery before safety.
Bord Pleanála concluded the need for mobile coverage did not outweigh the environmental damage that would result from the erection of the necessary equipment in a “uniquely beautiful and important” landscape.
Mr Kissane said what really insulted Black Valley people was a statement by Bord Pleanála, that as the Ring of Kerry was a busy tourist route, someone would be “along shortly” if there was a breakdown.
“Now an accident has happened which again shows the need for a basic telecommunications infrastructure. Many other incidents have also occurred down through the years,” he said.
Eircom recently announced plans to install a proper phone system in the valley. It is also an area frequented by hill walkers.
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