67 sign up for city suicide patrols

Up to 70 people have already signed up for voluntary patrols of the city’s waterways and the Corrib in an attempt to combat suicides and accidental drownings.

More than 100 people attended a public meeting on Wednesday night, where the concept of water patrols was discussed

It came in response to what has been described as the “alarming” loss of life in Galway’s waterways.

The patrols – which it is hoped can be launched at the beginning of the summer season – have the full backing of Gardaí and emergency services. The proposal was first mooted in this newspaper in March of last year.

They will involve trained volunteers carrying out regular nightly patrols (likely to be from Wednesday to Sunday) in locations which have been the scene of tragedies, including the city’s bridges.

Arthur Carr, one of the meeting’s conveners, said the reaction at the meeting exceeded expectations, and almost 70 people put their names forward as volunteers.

“It got a wonderful reaction. We signed up 67 people, so it’s onwards and upwards. I wasn’t expecting that amount, and people are still contacting us to say they couldn’t attend the meeting, but are still interested in volunteering.

“But this is not for everyone, and when people realise they’re not the type of person needed [because of the nature of the work], they might not want to go ahead with it.

“Enthusiasm is one thing, but reality is another. You have to be properly trained by people who deal with these tragedies every day,” said Mr Carr.

For more on this story, see this week’s Galway City Tribune