‘It's almost the same as killing someone’ – McVitty

“It's almost the same as killing someone,” was the ardent outburst by one local elected representative at Monday's Council meeting.

Cllr Peter McVitty (FG) made the remark during a debate seeking support for legislation to enact severe penalties for people who damage potentially life-saving equipment.
With near unanimous support for the cause being championed by Fianna Fáil Senator Dr Keith Swanick, as enshrined in the proposed Life Saving Equipment Bill 2017, their backing was hardened further by news of damage to several defibrillators locally.
Sen Swanick described damage to defibrillator cabinets in Kilcogy and Ballyjamesduff “a disgrace”, explaining the defibrillator will have to be removed until the box is repaired.
The Kilcogy Community Development took to social media last Monday to condemn the damage, saying: “Sorry to report that our defibrillator box was vandalised last night. It is sad to see that anyone would treat a piece of potentially life saving equipment in that way.”

But thankfully, the damage was rectified since and the device is back in action.

Sen Swanick's legislation, meanwhile, means a person could face jail if convicted of tampering with a life saving device such as a defibrillator or a lifebuoy.
Cllr Philip Brady (FF) agreed, saying there needed to be more than a “simple slap on the wrist” for perpetrators.
Sen Swanick's published legislation has the backing of the Irish Heart Foundation and fellow party member Shane P O'Reilly pointed to similar incidents in his area, where in fact defibrillator equipment had been stolen. “It goes back to the old advertisements you use to see about 'A stolen life-buoy is a stolen life'. It's the same thing with this equipment,” he said.
 Cllr McVitty added that such thefts or damage amounted to killing someone, adding: “People who do this kind of thing, there is something seriously wrong with them.”
Sinn Féin's Noel Connell meanwhile pointed to the huge community effort to fund the provision of such equipment.