Gardaí intervene as crowds film Cork drowning tragedy on phones and livestream footage

As a man drowned in Cork’s River Lee, onlookers filmed and livestreamed the tragedy, forcing gardaí to intervene

The alarm was raised at around 7pm on Wednesday after two men went swimming in the northern channel of the River Lee at Pope’s Quay. Picture: Denis Minihane.

Gardaí had to push people back and increase the cordon around first responders as dozens of onlookers gathered to watch and film, some livestreaming, as a man drowned in Cork city centre.

A senior fire officer has pleaded with people not to publish or share the distressing video footage taken as the tragedy unfolded.