Ballyvaughan harbour break-ins put lives at risk

A SENIOR garda has expressed concern about thefts of “life-saving equipment” from boats in North Clare.
There have been three break-ins in Ballyvaughan harbour since the beginning of this year but one local fisherman says the problem has been going on for much longer.
Patrick Mullins, a commercial fisherman, has had electronic equipment taken from his vessel and has even lost valuable catch to burglars over the past three years.
“There have been a spate of break-ins,” he told The Clare Champion. “Between the boat and the harbour itself, this is going on about two or three years. The boat has been broken into twice and I have had property on the pier damaged and robbed two or three times as well,” he added.
Mr Mullins is not the only one to have this experience.
“Other boats that are moored here over the winter; ferries, yachts, pleasure boats and sailing boats, have been broken into as well and vandalised in the harbour,” he explained.
“It is so frustrating. You can’t come down to the harbour in the morning and know that something will not have been robbed or vandalised,” he said.
The impact of this type of theft and vandalism can be far reaching.
“This sort of thing could put you out of business. If you arrive and your radio is gone, you can’t go fishing that day and not until you get it replaced,” he added.
Gardaí are investigating the reported incidents in the area.
“I would have a lot of concern in relation to life-saving equipment, like marine radios and this sort of thing being taken. It is awful to think of people going to sea without the life-saving equipment and then finding they needed it.
“We would be asking anyone who is offered this kind of equipment to let us know about it and to come forward to us about it,” Garda Superintendent Derek Smart appealed.
“We would ask the people living in the area, if they see anything at all suspicious, to pick up the phone and ring us in Ennistymon or in Ennis. It is important to let us know and not to think we already know it.
“Sometimes people are afraid that are getting involved if they ring in but they can talk to us in confidence. They don’t have to give their name or address,” he added.
Mr Mullins also believes community spirit has never been so important in preventing or fighting crime.
“I am asking people to be more vigilant to crime in rural Ireland in general,” Mr Mullins said. “We should all be watching out for each other. A little bit more community spirit is needed and communities need to get together and get involved.”