A major search and rescue operation was prompted on Lough Derg yesterday after a group of teenagers allegedly stole a boat and took to the water without an engine or life jacket.
A member of the public raised the alarm when he saw the seven teens, five boys and two girls on the lake rowing the 17ft fishing boat toward Holy Island off Mountshannon on the western side of the lake.
Its believed the teens, originally from Limerick, were planning to go fishing on the lake
The Killaloe unit of the Irish Coast Guard was scrambled and after some time located the teenagers on Bushy Isle just off Mount Shannon
The Coast Guard Boat took the teenagers on board and the boat in tow to an nearby slipway were Killaloe Coast Guard Vehicles and Garda from Scarriff were waiting.
A number of people were then quizzed by Gardaí and a file is being prepared for the DPP
