'Buck naked' man spotted watching families through binoculars at popular bathing spot
Darragh McDonagh
A naked man in his late 60s was observed watching families through a pair of binoculars while touching himself at a popular bathing spot in Mayo during last week’s heatwave, according to a complaint received by gardaí.
The incident occurred just outside the lakeside village of Pontoon last Tuesday, near a beach that is popular with locals.
The man was allegedly spotted touching himself while standing behind some bushes and watching a family with young children on the beach through a pair of binoculars.
When he was approached by two concerned individuals, he returned to his vehicle and drove away with such haste that he left the boot open, according to the complaint.
Gardaí at Ballina Garda Station subsequently received a report about the incident and were provided with the registration number of the man’s vehicle. However, they were unable to find sufficient evidence that a criminal offence had taken place.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, the woman who reported the incident to gardaí said she was “absolutely horrified” by the sight of the man, who she said was aged in his late 60s.
“It’s a beautiful location and it was buzzing with young families during the height of the fine weather last week. We were so shocked and angry to encounter such disgusting behaviour, and it ruined our day out,” she said.
“We spotted him from a distance at first and thought it was strange that he was peering out from behind some bushes with binoculars. It was only when we moved closer that we realised that he was buck naked and going at himself.
“I knew it was going to be difficult for the guards to do anything without catching him in the act, but I felt I had to report the incident because who knows what else he might do if he’s this brazen, and I’m glad I did,” she added.
“The gardaí were great. They took his registration number and undertook to patrol the area over the following few days in case he came back. It might be enough to save someone else from encountering such a disturbing sight.”
A spokeswoman for An Garda Síochána confirmed that they had been alerted to an alleged incident in Pontoon, Co Mayo on July 14th, but added that no criminal offence was found to have taken place.
Pontoon, which is near Foxford in the north of the county, boasts a number of popular bathing areas and picturesque sandy beaches on the shore of Lough Cullin, attracting large numbers of locals and visitors.
