Rescue efforts under way after garda is swept away by river

A MAJOR rescue operation was launched last night after a man in his 20s was swept away by a swollen river.

Gardaí have confirmed that the off-duty garda, who at the time of going to press was still missing, was swept away by a tributary of the Liffey in the Wicklow mountains just after 7pm.

The full details of the incident are not yet known but it is thought the garda was attempting to come to the assistance of a number of other people in danger during the freak weather. He was travelling on a quad bike in an effort to guide people and traffic to safety and was somehow dragged into the water.

Emergency services rushed to the scene at Ballysmuttan bridge, which traverses the River Liffey between Manor Kilbride and Kippure and is near the Sally Gap.

Members of the Glen of Imaal and Dublin-Wicklow mountain rescue teams are expected to continue their search this morning.

Gerry O’Neill, a Sinn Féin councillor in nearby Blessington, said constituents were shocked. He said conditions were worse than when Hurricane Charlie struck in 1986 with several bridges washed away on minor roads.

The conditions have led to the evacuation of Dundrum town centre, the possible evacuation of parts of Cabra and Kilmainham, and have devastated the capital’s transport system.

Outlying parts of north Co Dublin, such as Lusk and Skerries, are effectively cut off, while conditions at Dublin Airport were so dangerous yesterday evening that up to a dozen incoming flights had to be diverted to Shannon on the west coast, causing havoc to passengers’ plans.

Dublin City Council and South Dublin County Council have invoked their major emergency plans in a bid to tackle the crisis.