Syringe on beach near children

June 1997

There have been calls for the clean-up of Wicklow Town’s beaches following the discovery of a syringe during a children’s swimming race last weekend.

The syringe was discovered on the beach as dozens of children from the Wicklow Swimming Club took to the waters for the start if the popular swimming season on Sunday morning.

The concerned parent who discovered, the object wrapped it up before disposing of it.

The incident was raised by Cllr Lance O’Brien at this week’s meeting of the local Urrban District Council.

‘This is something that was going to happen sooner rather than later. The drugs problem is a huge one and something that must be addressed. Every town in the country is being affected by it.

‘We are not sure where this syringe came from but it represents a very serious danger for the people of Wicklow Town,’ he said.

According to a spokesman for Wicklow Town Gardaí, no official complaint was made to them concerning the discovery.

‘To date we have heard nothing about the find. However, we would say to people who may come across such objects to report them to us. They should not touch them under any circumstances,’ warned the spokesman. A fall of 12 feet nearly spelt the end for Larry the ferret when he fell from his cage at the home of his owner Alan Carr at Ballywaltrim cottages inBray.

After the fall Larry lost the use of his two back legs and his owner thought he had broken his back. However, be brought him to the Bray Vet clinic where x-rays revealed that he had dislocated two discs in his back. They were immediately put back by vet Pete Wedderburn. Following a spell in intensive care Larry was back to normal and is set to be one of the stars of an RTE TV series on animals. Alan said that Larry is a wonderful pet who gets on well with the dogs.