Mystery in the Midlands as boat with no one on board drifts ashore amid garda update

There is mystery over a boat that has washed ashore near Cashel, Newtowncashel, Co Longford in recent days.

Gardaí posted images of the boat with a net, engine and oars onboard to Facebook in a bid to reunite it with its owner but locals and a branch of the Inland Waterways Association of Ireland have raised concern somebody may have been on the boat and ran into difficulty.

The An Garda Síochána Longford Facebook shared the images of the boat alongside the post: "This boat drifted ashore near Cashel, Newtowncashel, Co Longford.

"It is currently been taken care of by finder. If anyone recognises same, contact An Garda Síochána Longford."

However, Belturbet Branch of the Inland Waterways Association of Ireland responded with concern: "Hopefully there's no one in the water. Has anyone checked?"

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A concerned local replied: "Fully agree, has anyone checked water? Unusual that landing net is still in boat."

Another person noticed the fact the "net, engine and oars are all on boat," adding, "hope angler is safe and it has only drifted free."

A third reply to the garda post read: "Maybe the occupant could be stranded or in the water is there a registration number on it."

A further comment read: "I’d be checking with all private boat moorings and private residents along the shore that may have boat sheds. An engine and net would not be left on a public area moored boat."

Longford Live has contacted An Garda Síochána for a further statement on this incident. 

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