A tense ten-hour drama at one of the country’s top beauty spots was brought to a successful conclusion late last night after a distressed man was talked down from a cliff top by Gardaí.
The man in his 40’s was also talked down from the same ledge at the Cliffs of Moher in Co Clare on Tuesday night but returned to the area again yesterday.
A Garda negotiator spent several hours speaking with the man as he sat on top of the 700 feet cliffs close to Aill Na Searrach.
The drama first unfolded on Tuesday night when Gardaí and and the Doolin unit Irish Coast Guard unit were requested to search for a ‘despondent person’ in the vicinity of the Cliffs of Moher..
It’s understood that Police in the UK alerted authorities in Ireland after they received a call from the man indicating that he was at the popular cliffs.
Coast Guard volunteers assembled and search teams were sent to the area while preparations were also made to launch a rescue boat.
Soon afterwards it was confirmed that Gardaí had located the distressed man and the search was stood down.
After speaking with Gardaí for a time before the man agreed to stay in a hotel in Ennistymon for the night and continue his journey yesterday morning.
It’s believed that at the time Gardaí had no reason to be concerned about the man’s wellbeing and believed he would continue his journey after a nights rest. He told Gardaí he was travelling to Co Louth to visit a family member.
Yesterday (Wednesday) morning, after he was taken to collect his car at the Cliffs of Moher, the man returned to the cliffs sparking another search.
Gardaí located the man’s rental car at Pollboy about a kilometre north of the visitor centre at the Cliffs of Moher. Search teams quickly located the man on the Burren Way cliff walk north of O’Brien’s Tower.
Gardaí spoke with the man from a distance after he indicated that he didn’t want anyone coming near him.
Senior officers including an Inspector and Superintendent along with a trained Garda negotiator also arrived while Coast Guard personnel remained close by.
Walkers and hikers were prevented from using the track between Aill Na Searrach and O’Brien’s Tower while Gardaí dealt with the incident.
After almost ten hours on the cliff top, the man was successfully talked down by Gardaí last night and taken to safety.