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Dublin 7.
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News
Article in The Irish Sun tabloid 14th Jan 2010 [14/Jan/10]
In response to an article on page 6 of today's Irish Sun tabloid newspaper Dublin Civil Defence wishes to clarify a number of items of false reporting:
The Hagglunds BV206 is indeed ex-Swedish military but did not cost two hundred thousand euro as suggested. As it is a second hand vehicle, a figure of a fraction of that would be more appropriate.
The Hagglunds BV206 is not armoured, nor is it a milk float. It is neither a "Snowmobile" nor "Skidoo"
The Hagglunds BV206 was not brought into active service "yesterday after most of the snow had melted" but on the 9th of January while the weather was still very much as inclemental as before, albeit getting better (conditions were still poor enough to create 6ft snowdrifts in Sallygap where the Hagglunds rescued 2 people - see article here).
The Hagglunds BV206 was purchased with it's main intended use being flooding, and evacuating residents from affected areas, it was purchased for this use as it is amphibious and can carry a large number of casualties, walking or serious. It is also ideal therefore in transporting casualties from inaccessible areas to Paramedics, as it has already been used for.
The Hagglunds BV206 arrived in Dublin over the Christmas period and was being prepared for active service when the serious weather conditions set in, forcing work on it to be completed ahead of schedule in order for it to be of use.
The one true fact in the whole article however, is that the Hagglunds has been involved in a number of rescues in a matter of days, and will continue to be made available for assistance to the Emergency Services, And is out on a rescue in the Wicklow area as this article is being written.
