Friday, 27th June 2025
Senator Alison Comyn calls for urgent safety measures following Laytown drowning tragedy
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The footbridge over the River Nanny at Laytown,
Senator Alison Comyn has called for urgent safety interventions following the tragic death of 15-year-old Kofi Owusu, who drowned near the Nanny River footbridge in Laytown, County Meath earlier this month.
Speaking in the Seanad, Senator Comyn described the incident as “a heartbreaking and preventable loss” and urged national and local authorities to act swiftly to prevent further tragedies at the popular beauty spot. She had previously raised the issue of water safety just weeks earlier, calling for compulsory swimming lessons in schools following three drowning incidents in quick succession.
“Another young life has been lost, and we cannot continue to treat these events as isolated accidents,” she said. “We must acknowledge the growing pattern of danger associated with this site and implement the necessary measures to protect the public—particularly our young people.”
The Nanny River footbridge has long been a local attraction, but the structure’s current design, Senator Comyn said, presents significant safety risks. The case of Kofi Owusu is not an isolated one: 14-year-old Bilal Tunkara lost his life at the same location in 2022, and two further near-drownings occurred in 2019 and 2020.
A group of concerned local residents, led by Laytown sea swimmer Tonya Mullen, have called for a number of changes, including higher railings, anti-climb features, enhanced signage and lighting, regular patrols on sunny days, and youth education campaigns to raise awareness of the risks involved.
“These are not just symbolic gestures—they are practical, potentially life-saving solutions,” said Senator Comyn. “But they will require targeted investment and inter-agency cooperation.”
While many of the proposed changes fall under the remit of Meath County Council, Senator Comyn has also requested that the Minister for Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and the Marine, Deputy Martin Heydon, be invited to the Seanad to explore the possibility of securing national funding, particularly given the bridge’s location at a coastal river mouth.
“With summer in full swing, the risks only increase. We owe it to Kofi and to the countless families affected by these tragedies to take meaningful action now,” Senator Comyn added. “This is about saving lives.”
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