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GARDAÍ HAVE LAUNCHED an investigation after vandals smashed up a life-saving defibrillator in Limerick city centre.
Officers are studying CCTV footage after the front glass of the machine, which provides immediate first aid to heart-attack victims, was smashed and the device damaged as a result.
Members of the Limerick South City Residents Association raised thousands of euro in order to have the defibrillator fitted to the exterior of a pharmacy in the area, and since it was installed, it has provided life-support to a number of people waiting on ambulances at the junction of O’Connell Avenue and St Joseph’s Street.
But they have been left stunned after this week’s vandalism on the defibrillator, with local Fine Gael Senator Maria Byrne condemning it as “a cowardly act”.
Smashed
Jerry O’Connell, who chairs the South City Residents Association, confirmed the glass of the front of the defibrillator was smashed, after the assailant was unable to gain access to it.
“We had a lock put on it, and local residents know the number in case anything happens. They [the attacker] were not able to get the defibrillator out, so they broke the glass,” he explained.
As a result of this, major damage has been done to the defibrillator, which is now being sent to engineers to see if it can be salvaged.
O’Connell said: “I have had open heart surgery myself, so I recognise the importance of this device. I am shocked someone could do this. If you look at it another way, whoever did this has a father and mother. If something happened to them, if they were local people, where would it leave them?”
Lifesaving equipment
Byrne, who lives a stone’s throw from where the defibrillator is located, added: “People go out and do stupid things, but to interfere with life-saving equipment is very sad, and somebody must have been in a very bad place to have to do this. These things don’t come cheap. It’s lifesaving equipment.”
“The defibrillator has gone away as we feel water may have gotten into it. We’re not sure until the report comes back whether it is working 100% or not,” she added.
As well as the defibrillator, the wing mirrors of a car parked on St Joseph’s Street were also smashed.
The residents association held a variety of fundraising events, including table quizzes and coffee mornings to pay for the defibrillator back in 2013.
It’s the only such device in the area which is located on a public street.
On average, the machines cost in the region of €2,000.
Gardai at Roxboro Road are investigating the vandalism, and can be contacted at 061 214340.
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Justice served
@Greg Ward: should extent the same level of rigor to all murders.. some dont seem to get same level of intensity. Condolences to the family of Adrian
@Pat Kelly:
@Pat Kelly: How do you know what effort goes into other murder investigations?
Thoughts with Adrian’s wife, children and family today.
It won’t bring Adrian back or ease the pain of his loved ones, but it’s good to know that those responsible for that pain will suffer too. They won’t suffer enough but it’ll have to do.
I hope he serves every second of the sentence.
My thoughts are with Adrian Donohoe’s family.
@Michael Clinton: He will serve every day
A capital offence is 40 years without remission.
Great outcome . Justice at all for the family
End of part one…now for the rest of them.
Thinking of Caroline and her family today and all there Garda colleagues..R.I.P. Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe
Det Garda Adrian O’Donoghue was a true hero of our state, congratulations to An Garda Siochanna for a successful prosecution and their dogged persistence seeking justice for his family.
Proper Order. It should be life without the chance of parole
@Jim Beatty: It is a Life Sentence. The 40 Years just mean that he must serve 40 years before being considered for Parole. He will be 69 before he is entitled to his first Parole hearing. So going by normal standards will likely be in his 70′s before Parole would be granted.
@Mick.: and during his 40 years in jail, he will have lost his entire Middle years and will be institutionalised. I heard somewhere that when a person spends more than 20 years in jail, their entire mental balance changes too. So even if he gets out in his mid 70s, he won’t know how to react and survive in that new world of the 2060s or 70s. So in essence, he won’t be able to leave jail, even if he’s allowed.
@Mick.: its 30 with remission….
@Mick.: its 30 with remission…
God love all families involved in this
@Liam Mc Meel: True ,victims everywhere.
Taking a Life like that, he will be a very old man, when he is released if he ever gets released.
He would be out now if he surrendered on an armed robbery charge… But he chose to Kill a member of Gardai… that 40 year term is there to deter, not the brightest Spark now is he?
Also, I agree with an earlier post bring in mandatory 30 year minimum for all Life sentences… personally I couldn’t live with myself. You only live once, Life is precious.
Only 7 grand he would have got out of the robbery to divvy with his accomplices. What a tool.
The murder of Adrian Donohoe was and must be condemned..In stating that any update on the missing millions that disappeared in Templemore or the missing mobile phones and laptops of Noreen O’Sullivan..
@Donal Desmond: to make comments like that on a day like today is beneath contempt.
@Joe Bloggs: correct Joe,but vermin will be vermin.
All lives matter and all murders should be investigated with exactly the same vigor
@David Saunders: who says that they’re not?
May he rest in peace
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