Dangerous Mayo jetty issue to come before council meeting
The jetty is located along the River Moy.
A proposal to make changes to a jetty that has been the scene of a number of recent suicides is to come before a meeting of Mayo County Council.
Cllr Michael Loftus is to raise the issue concerning the jetty, located along the River Moy in Ballina, at the next month’s meeting of the local authority.
He is proposing that Mayo County Council should remove the current bridge that provides access to the jetty and replace it with a bridge that can be lowered when access is required. He said only keyholders will have access.
“It will be locked and nobody can go out onto the jetty unless they have a key to lower the bridge. That way the jetty can remain in place and there will be no major costs involved,” said Cllr Lofus.
The coroner for North Mayo recently recommended that action be taken to remove or secure the jetty.
Dr Eleanor Fitzgerald made the comments at Ballina Courthouse during the inquest of a 46-year-old man who took his own life at the Ballina jetty in April of this year.
Tony Boland of the Grainne Uaile Sub Aqua Club told the inquest that there had been up to three people who taken their own life by jumping into the water at the jetty in recent months.
Mr Boland said he has been tasked with five searches at the Bachelor’s Walk location during his time with the club.
The volunteer explained to the inquest that a lock had been in place at the jetty but it was removed and never replaced. Dr Fitzgerald said the jetty is clearly a “dangerous place” which is too easily accessible.
