Replacing vandalised lifebuoys costs Cork City Council €20k per year

An average of 25 lifebuoys are being disposed of in the river Lee every month

Denis Kiely from Cork City Missing Persons Search and Recovery returning lifebuoys that were disposed of in Cork's river Lee by vandals

A disturbing vandalism trend involving lifebuoys being thrown away along the river Lee is resulting in an annual spend of €20,000 for Cork City Coucil

The findings come as local voluntary group, Cork City Missing Persons Search And Recovery, returned 15 lifebuoys to Cork City Council in the space of 10 days. 

It is believed that the lifebuoys were unconnected to any rescue and had been disposed of in the river by vandals. 

Each lifebuoy costs €65 to replace, placing mounting pressure on the council to prevent water tragedies.

An average of 25 lifebuoys are being disposed of in the river Lee a month, amounting to 300 a year. 

However, just one person involved in the vandalism was brought to justice after facing prosecution.

Stephen Scully from the Cork City Council parks and recreation department said that culprits are very often difficult to identify due to their discreet nature.

“Thankfully, we had one person prosecuted last year, but generally, this is done late at night, making it very difficult to identify those who are responsible. 

"The figures are consistent but it's very hard to understand why this is happening. 

The mind process behind incidents like this is flabbergasting. The public have been great in terms of recovering the ring buoys and we have to praise organisations like Cork City Missing Persons Search and Rescue for the important work they do.

Eoghan O'Connor, who runs the veterinary practice Home Vet Care, saved a man from the river near Merchant’s Quay in Cork with the help of Algerian national Zaknoun Zineddine, last February. 

He said the rescue would not have been possible without a lifebuoy.

“There is no question in my mind that the man would have drowned without a lifebuoy. They are so valuable. If you throw one away and God forbid, there is a drowning in that area, you are indirectly causing the loss of someone’s life. 

"I thought this was something that would happen exceptionally rarely, but I am shocked to hear it is a regular occurrence. 

"Nobody thinks they need a seatbelt until they do. The same could be said for a lifebuoy. You could just as easily be the person in this situation who needs one. Tragedies do occur. Accidents do happen. Lifebuoys are there for a reason.

"I have no words for anyone who thinks otherwise or feels the need to vandalise them. It is a really shameful thing to do.” 

The council maintains around 172 life buoys placed at various locations on the north and south banks of the river, from the Lee Fields through the city and east along the Marina and the Mahon walkway.

An average of 25 lifebuoys are being disposed of in the river Lee a month, amounting to 300 a year. Picture: Denis Minihane

Cork City Missing Persons Search and Recovery secretary David Varian says group members are determined to replace as many lifebuoys as possible.

“There are some of them that we’ll never get back because they travel so far down the river and end up washing up on a bank somewhere.

"However, there is never a time that we have passed a life ring and not retrieved it.  All it takes is a few minutes for a tragedy to happen. 

"If an individual throws a life ring away and someone finds themselves in trouble five minutes later then it’s a matter of life and death.

"What’s needed is awareness campaign, particularly in schools and colleges. 

"People need to know this is a life-saving appliance and that a loss of a life ring is a loss of life.”