Northern Ireland

Councillor demands fire engine for remote Irish island

A Donegal councillor says emergency equipment is essential for Tory Island. Picture by Chris Moody
A Donegal councillor says emergency equipment is essential for Tory Island. Picture by Chris Moody A Donegal councillor says emergency equipment is essential for Tory Island. Picture by Chris Moody

A DONEGAL councillor has called for emergency services to be updated on Ireland’s most remote inhabited island.

Micheal Mac Giolla Easbuig was speaking after a man suffered serious injuries when he fell from a 30ft cliff on Tory Island. The victim was treated at Letterkenny University Hospital for a broken hip and other injuries after he was rescued from the foot of the island sea cliffs.

Lying nine miles off the coast of Donegal, Tory has a population of around 140 people, making it Ireland’s most remote inhabited island.

Mr Mac Giolla Easbuig said last week’s accident showed how important it was that emergency services on Tory be updated. The west Donegal councillor said the fact that the island has no fire engine or high-speed rescue boat showed how much it had been neglected.

He said it was vital that a high speed “rib” be provided so that islanders could be evacuated to the mainland at speed if necessary.

“A fire engine and an emergency sea vessel are not luxuries. They are essential equipment for islanders,” he said.

The independent councillor said but for the quick actions of emergency services and residents the young man injured in last week’s fall could have drowned.