Cruise boat seized after reports those on board ‘endangering life’

GARDAÍ have seized a cruise boat on Lough Derg after reports it had been operating in a dangerous manner endangering life and property.

The seizure followed two separate incidents of careless and dangerous behaviour by boat operators on the lake on Sunday.

In the latest incident, the skipper of a boat moored at Killaloe contacted Gardaí at around 7.30pm and said he feared for his safety after witnessing a sports cruiser “operating recklessly, endangering life and property in close proximity to his vessel”.

Conditions on the lake were reported to be poor with reduced visibility in rain and drizzle.

The Killaloe unit of the Irish Coast Guard (ICG) was requested to help local Gardaí find the suspect boat. It had left the scene by the time Gardaí arrived but was located a short time later near Ballina.

It is understood that there were four people on board at the time of the incident but they were not on board when the boat was located.

The vessel was then impounded by Gardaí from Killaloe, who are still investigating the incident.

Earlier in the day, Killaloe Coast Guard issued a warning to all water users following another incident in which a cruiser was reported to have almost swamped a lake boat with a number of children on board.

The Coast Guard said it is important for all boat operators on Lough Derg to be aware of the bylaws that exist, as well as for people in control of larger or faster craft to be vigilant of smaller, less stable boats.