Witnesses to the vandalism of life-saving ring buoys in Drogheda are being urged to contact gardaí, following the fourteenth incident of damage or destruction of life rings in the town this year.
Louth Fire Service responded to a call about a burning life ring at Horse Lane, Drogheda, Co Louth, overnight.
The equipment was completely destroyed in the incident.
Louth County Council has appealed for witnesses who know or may have seen who is damaging the life saving equipment to report it to gardaí.
Earlier in the summer, on 6 June and 13 June, two separate incidents led to nine life rings, rope units and containers being extensively damage at the Skatepark, St Dominic's Park and River Walk.
The council said that there have been four other incidents where life rings were either thrown into the river or cut up.
It said the destruction of the equipment potentially endangers life but also incurs a significant cost to repair or replace.
Water Safety Officer Mark Kimmins reminded people that on average 105 drownings occur in Ireland every year and urged anybody who may witness such incidents to report them to their nearest garda station.
