Tag Archives: Clare Emergency Services

Searches of a river in Co Clare for two men missing since last week, have been stood down after one body was recovered from a river in Ennis yesterday afternoon while another was found on a beach in southwest Clare on Saturday. A Garda spokesperson confirmed: “Gardaí are investigating all the circumstances following the discovery of a body of a man in his 80s, in the River Fergus, Ennis, at approximately 1pm. His body has been removed to University Hospital Limerick where a post-mortem will take place at a later date, the results of which will determine the course of the investigation.” The body of the man recovered from the beach is now believed to be that of a man in his 60s reported missing from his home in Ennis on January 21, while the remains discovered yesterday afternoon are thought to be those of a man seen in the River Fergus on Tuesday evening. Gardaí and the Irish Coast …

A multi-agency search and rescue operation has been mounted at a river in Co Clare after a person was reported to have been seen enter the water late this afternoon. Emergency services were alerted shortly before 5.30pm when passers-by spotted a person in the River Fergus in Ennis and raised the alarm. Units of Clare County Fire and Rescue Service from Ennis station including specially trained swift-water rescue technicians (SRT) were mobilised along Clare Civil Defence, National Ambulance Service and Gardaí. Members of the Doolin unit of the Irish Coast Guard were also tasked to the scene while the Shannon-based search and rescue helicopter was also requested to assist but it’s understood poor visibility prevented Rescue 115 from taking part in the operation. No further details are available at this time…

A search has resumed this Monday morning for a person reported missing in the Ennis area on Sunday. A search operation was launched after a man in his 60s was reported missing in the Ballybeg area south of Ennis. Gardaí had mounted an initial search but requested assistance from the Irish Coast Guard. It’s understood that man was last seen on Saturday evening as CCTV footage shows him leaving his home at Riverside off the Clon Road in Ennis. Members of Galway Civil Defence’s drone team have travelled to Clare to assist their colleagues who are also using the technology in the search. Neighbours and other locals as well as work colleagues of the missing man have also been taking part in the search. The area of operation has now been widened with Civil Defence personnel and members of the public now searching an area around Cahercalla Hospital. Weather conditions are still poor with reduced visibility reported in the search …

EMERGENCY response times for West Clare patients are back in the spotlight again after a Kilrush woman endured an eight-hour wait for an ambulance. The elderly woman did receive medical assistance from a member of the fire brigade and off-duty medical person while she was left lying on the floor in her home. This case was highlighted at a recent HSE West Forum meeting by Councillor Cillian Murphy where he stressed eight hours was too long for anyone to be waiting who needs hospital care even if it wasn’t a high acuity case. The Kilkee-based councillor said this person would have been ideal to receive treatment from a community paramedic. “If an eight-hour wait is what we are expecting, I would like a response on that.” Chief Ambulance Officer, J J McGowan admitted the ambulance response time fell short of their standards. “If you would like to send us the details, we would like to see what happened in that …

THE difficulty recruiting full time firefighters has the potential to leave the town exposed in an emergency with one councillor calling the situation “alarming”. It is understood that on a recent weekend just four firefighters were available for duty in Shannon. Such low numbers could have meant the service was well below what is required, but arrangements were made to bring firefighters from other areas to Shannon. Councillor Donna McGettigan said it is imperative that the situation improve. “To have so few in a town with an airport and chemical factories, it is very alarming. There must be a lot of stress on the staff too to cover shortages, and they’re under immense pressure.” She said that the reason for the lack of cover goes beyond the Council. “I know they have been trying their best to recruit, but something needs to be done to make sure it is done. I can’t blame them here, they have been trying, but …

Three caravans have been destroyed by fire at the same location where a mobile home was targeted last Sunday. Emergency services were alerted to the fires at Kilbreckan, Doora at around 6.15pm. Gardaí responded to the incident followed soon afterwards by units of Clare County Fire and Rescue Service from Ennis station. On arrival, Gardaí found three caravans ‘well alight’. Fire crews extinguished the fires but all three caravans were destroyed. It’s understood they were not occupied at the time and no injuries have been reported. This evening’s incident is the latest in a series of similar calls emergency services have responded to since last weekend. Last Sunday, a mobile home was destroyed by fire at the same unofficial halting site close to the M18 motorway. On Saturday, a car was discovered burned out near Woodstock in Ennis while on Monday evening, an incident involving petrol bombs was reported at a halting site on the Gort Road. On Wednesday evening, …

TWO people have been taken to hospital following a single vehicle road traffic collision in south Clare this afternoon. The crash occurred on the R473 Kildysart to Labasheeda road at Cahercon at around 3.40pm. Emergency services were alerted to an incident where a car was reported to have left the road and collided with a tree. National Ambulance Service paramedics, Gardaí and units of Clare County Fire and Rescue Service from Ennis station responded to the incident. On arrival, fire crews used their appliances to close the road to ensure the safety of everyone at the scene. Paramedics assessed and treated two men before they were both removed by ambulance to University Hospital Limerick for treatment. It’s understood that neither man suffered serious injuries The R473 was reopened at around 5.15pm after the car had been removed and the scene declared safe. Gardaí are investigating the circumstances of the collision.

Gardaí are investigating the circumstances of a fire that destroyed a caravan near Doora on Sunday evening. Emergency services were alerted after at around 4.15pm when it was reported that a caravan was on fire at Kilbreckan near Doora and just off the M18 motorway close to junction 12. Units of the Clare County Fire and Rescue Service from Ennis and Shannon stations responded to the call along with Gardaí. On arrival at the scene, fire crews found the caravan was well alight. The fire was brought under control however the caravan was completely destroyed. There was no one injured in the incident. Gardaí are now investigating the cause of the fire. A Garda spokesperson confirmed: “Gardaí and fire services attended a fire in Ennis earlier this afternoon. No injuries have been reported. Enquiries are ongoing.”