Firefighter made hoax calls to feel ‘sense of excitement’

A firefighter in West Cork made a series of hoax emergency calls that led to the deployment of the fire brigade to non-existent fires.

Michael Hurley, aged 39, from Clonakilty, received payments amounting to €360 for the bogus call-outs which, a court heard, were also undertaken because of the sense of excitement and camaraderie he felt by while on a response call.

Clonakilty District Court yesterday heard Mr Hurley, a father of four, was a member of the local fire service in the town, which is a retained fire service.