A DONEGAL councillor has called for immediate action after an Irish Coastguard team was held up during an emergency launch by what he described as "inconsiderate" drivers.
The team was called out on Saturday when two people got into difficulties off the west Donegal coast. However, when the coastguard crew arrived to launch the emergency boat at Bunbeg pier, they found their way blocked by parked cars.
The crew had to wait for up to five minutes before the cars were moved from the harbour and the emergency boat was launched.
While the two people who were in difficulty were rescued, Donegal councillor Micheal Cholm Mac Giolla Easbuig said the delay could have led to tragedy.
"They got a call roughly around 2 o’clock. They went to launch unfortunately due to a handful of people who were very inconsiderate in terms of their parking. It took them an extra five to six minutes to launch.
“This could have had a massive impact in terms of the rescue overall. It could have ended up with a very different conversation today. Seconds count when that call-out is made.”
