Drunken Limerick swimmer who sparked 'major rescue effort' fined

A DRUNKEN swimmer from Limerick, who sparked a Coast Guard rescue effort that included a helicopter being dispatched to Lough Derg, refused to get into the first rescue boat that went to his aid, a court has heard.

At Killaloe District Court sitting in Ennis, Sergeant Aiden Lonergan explained how on August 13 last a member of the public reported that Limerick man Simon Casey was in distress while swimming in the water at Twomilegate on Lough Derg.

Sgt Lonergan said a rescue effort was luanched and that a rescue boat, the Shannon-based Coast Guard helicopter and an ambulance were dispatched to the scene.

He said Garda David Burke, who attended the scene, spotted the 42-year-old father of six, 150 metres from shore. He didn’t appear to be moving very fast and there was a lot of splashing from his arms.

Sgt Lonergan stated that Garda Darren McLoughlin boarded a boat with a member of the public and went towards Mr Casey, who has an address at Clonlong, Southhill, Limerick to offer assistance but that Mr Casey refused to board the boat.

The court heard that on arrival of the Coast Guard boat, Mr Casey was rescued from the water and returned to the shore.

Sgt Lonergan stated that when spoken to by gardai on the shore, Mr Casey had slurred speech and was clearly intoxicated to the extent that he was a danger to himself and to others.

Mr Casey was taken home in the care of family members who were present. He was issued with a Fixed Notice Penalty Charge, under the Public Order Act, which was not paid.

Sgt Lonergan stated that Mr Casey has 39 previous convictions including seven for being drunk in a public place.

Commenting, Judge Alec Gabbott said Mr Casey had used up “a significant use of public resources” after being told of the helicopter and rescue boat call out.

He imposed a fine of €200 for the Public Order charge of being intoxicated in a public place.

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Solicitor for Mr Casey, Tara Godfrey said that the public order charge was the only charge Mr Casey faced from the incident.

She stated that it was a very hot day and that her client “became over-emotional in the water”.

In relation to the rescue effort, Ms Godfrey said: “He thought he was doing fine. In any event, he may not have been”.

She added that her client - who is not working - didn’t receive the fine. “He lives on a halting site,” she said.

Judge Gabbett said that Twomilegate on such a sunny day would be a very busy place and you should not be intoxicated.