Hoax Cliff Emergency Call Wastes Vital Resources at Old Head of Kinsale
Extensive search finds no vehicle in water.
Multiple emergency services were deployed to the Old Head of Kinsale this afternoon following false reports of a vehicle entering the water, in what has been confirmed as a hoax call that diverted crucial resources from genuine emergencies.
Old Head/Seven Heads Coast Guard, Valentia Coast Guard, An Garda Síochána units from Bandon and Kinsale, Cork County Fire Service, National Ambulance Service, and Courtmacsherry Harbour RNLI all responded to the incident shortly after 1:30 PM on Monday, 27 October 2025.
After an extensive search of the area, emergency services determined that no vehicle had gone over the cliff and no one was in danger. The call was declared a hoax.
In a statement posted to social media this afternoon, Old Head/Seven Heads Coast Guard expressed frustration at the waste of emergency resources.
Old Head/Seven Heads Coast Guard:
"Our unit and others are happy to respond 24/7, 365 days a year to rescue those in need. Hoax calls like today's are extremely frustrating to both volunteers and full time members of the emergency services. While these valuable resources were attending this call today they would have been unavailable for a genuine call."
The incident highlights the serious consequences of making false emergency reports. When multiple agencies are deployed to hoax calls, they become unavailable to respond to real emergencies where lives may be at risk.
All agencies involved in today's response comprise a mixture of volunteers and full-time emergency personnel who sacrifice their time to keep coastal communities safe.
