Coastguard closure ‘would put lives at risk’

The proposed closure of a high-profile coastguard station could be a matter of life or death for people at sea.

Valentia Island station is again under threat, and a former lifeboat coxswain has spoken of one valuable aspect that bureaucracy is overlooking in the saving of lives: Local knowledge

Seanie Murphy, who was at the lifeboat helm for 28 years in Co Kerry, is strongly supporting a campaign by the Valentia Save Our Station (SOS) group to oppose a renewed attempt to close the station.