Three rescued after getting into difficulties on Kerry peak

THREE climbers who got into difficulties close to the summit of Carrauntoohil overnight on Thursday had to be rescued after one of the party took a fall shortly before midnight.

The three night climbers included a Polish man and woman and an Irish woman. It’s believed a gust of wind may have caught the injured man, who was roped, on Howling Ridge

Meanwhile, after a busy Christmas period for the mountain rescue teams in Kerry, the county’s mayor, John Sheahan, has called for a minimum financial charge from all those rescued.

Kerry County Councillor Mr Sheahan, who is set to move a formal council motion, on the issue, added: ‘These are risk takers and if they require services, they should have to pay for them.’

In Thursday’s incident, an advance rescue party, at around 3am, was able to walk the injured man down the mountain, and a waiting ambulance took him to University Hospital Kerry at 7am.

There have been five emergency call-outs to the Kerry Mountain Rescue Team since St Stephen’s Day, all of them to Carrauntoohil, which is currently under heavy snow.

Seven people were brought to safety in the period, bringing to 44 the total number of people needing assistance from the local voluntary team so far this year.

Ireland and England have a tradition of voluntary mountain rescue – unlike much of the rest of Europe.