Heartless thieves steal life-saving equipment in Kilrooskey
Wednesday, 14 July 2010
Frank Fallon displays a cardio defibrillator, similar to the one which was stolen. Picture: Gerard O'Loughlin. GOL2444
THE COMMUNITY of Kilrooskey have been forced to shell out another €1,500 after heartless thieves stole a life-saving defibrillator, available to the public for medial emergencies.
The Ballagh/Curraghroe Defib Committee have now been forced to spend the money to purchase another defibrillator after extensive searches of the locality and Gardai investigations failed to find the device.
Frank Fallon, a member of Ballagh Curraghroe Defib Committee, said that the community is disgusted that someone would steal such an important device.
"It is just shocking that someone would take this. It serves no purpose for anyone, other than to save lives. We were shocked at the theft but know that it had to be replaced as soon as possible. The nearest defibrillator is more than two miles away, and if an emergency did occur, this is just too far away," he said.
The theft occurred on the night or the early morning of June 2nd/3rd when the device was stolen from the outside of a house. The new location of the device is Ballagh church and replacement defibrillator will now be available for use from this weekend.
Frank knows the importance of the life-saving device as it saved his wife two years ago. "My wife was in a hotel in Galway and suffered a cardiac arrest. Luckily, the hotel had a defibrillator on site and the manager was trained in how to use it. Only for it, my wife would not be here today. Knowing that it saved her life, pushed us into doing something. The people of the locality paid for this device and it is just disgraceful that someone would steal something that saves lives.
We would appeal to anyone who knows of its whereabouts to please come forward with information.
Basically the shock stops the heart dead. The person who took this tried to deny the people of this area a life-saver," said Mr. Fallon.
The defibrillator, which had been located at Scott's in the village, cost €1,500 and the funds were raised by the committee going from door to door collecting from local people.
Excess money had been raised at the time for the upkeep of the defibrillator and there was sufficient funds available to purchase a new defibrillator for the area.
The replacement defibrillator will the people of Ballagh and Curraghroe and from this weekend it will be located at Ballagh church.
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