Mid Ulster Council has hit out at those responsible for the vandalism of life-saving equipment at the Coalisland Canal pathway.
The latest incident of vandalism of the throwlines at the Reenaderry car park means the last remaining life-saving equipment on the pathway has now been damaged.
The council said the throwline at the car park site was removed from a bag and cut before being replaced in the bag, making it unusable in case of an emergency.
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A spokesperson for the local government body urges those responsible for tampering with the equipment to think about the potential impact of their actions.
“Unfortunately, instances involving the destruction of life preserving equipment are all too common at our water sites,” council chair Paul McLean said.
“This latest incident at Coalisland Canal must be condemned without reservation and is particularly concerning, given the malicious nature of how the throwline has been tampered with, in such a way as to hide the damage done until it was too late.
“When this equipment is damaged maliciously, the vandals can be contributing towards someone losing their life where it would otherwise be saved, and are putting at risk the lives of people from the local community who use the Coalisland Canal walk.”
Works are being carried out to improve the Coalisland canal and the town’s centre as part of a £1.8million investment in the Mid Ulster area announced earlier this year.
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