Meath Labour Councillor Elaine McGinty has said that urgent laws and enforcement are needed to strengthen the hand of Local Authorities to tackle magnet fishing.
Councillor McGinty’s call came after two viable devices were found last week by members of the public doing their civic duty in cleaning up the canals and waterways near the Battle of the Boyne at Oldbridge.
“They appeared on the side of the canal from people going out hunting for metal submerged on canals and rivers” Councillor McGinty said.
“It is called Magnet Fishing, it involves dangling a magnet attached to a rope to locate metal finds and it is increasing in popularity”
“One just has to look at the thousands of uploaded videos on YouTube to see evidence of this. But this is a dangerous hobby that needs to come with a stark warning of its dangers.”
“Two live incendiary devices were found and were later disposed of by the Gardai and the bomb squad. They appear to have been in the canal a long time but when they were pulled out and left on the side of the canal bank they became a danger to the public.”
“The chances of finding a live device are one in a million but in this case two in a week warrants further investigation by our Gardaí.
“In the UK there have been recorded fatalities as a result of magnet fishing and we now need this practice stopped as a matter of urgency.
“I am calling on Meath County Council to clarify if this practice is illegal under existing legislation and if not pass an urgent by-law.”
