'Lives at risk' following RNLI attack

Potentially life saving radio equipment has been damaged at an RNLI Lifegaurd station on the North Coast. 

Youths climbed onto the top of the hut at Benone beach on Monday and ripped the VHF radio aerial from a bolted bracket. 

The equipment is used for Lifegaurds to communicate with each other and other emergency services in the area.

Engineers are working to repair the damage. 

Prior to the peak season commencing this summer, a window door entrance was smashed in the hut during the Easter period.

It is estimated that the repairs to the beach lifeguard unit will run into hundreds of pounds for the charity.

The lead connecting the aerial to radio transmitters inside the hut was not torn however, so damage is mostly limited to the building. 

Lifeguard Supervisor Karl O’Neill said: ‘While we were fortunate to find the wire wasn’t damaged on the aerial which would have rendered our VHF communications off service, the damage was such that given the poor weather we have been experiencing the signal could have been affected.’

"The RNLI is working closely with the Police Service of Northern Ireland in an attempt to prevent further damage being done to the beach unit for the remainder of the season.

"We would appeal to those doing this damage to be mindful that the RNLI is a charity’.