UPDATE: Man comes forward after Christmas tree scaled in Laois town
'It’s lucky he didn’t fall, he went up to the top of it,' a local Councillor said
A Christmas Tree committee who posted about a man climbing a tree in Portarlington has said a man has now come forward and the matter is resolved.
The voluntary group had expressed outrage after a man scaled a town’s Christmas tree on Saturday night.
The Portarlington Christmas Tree voluntary group had posted an image on social media of what appears to be a man near the top of the tree. The picture is understood to have been taken late on Saturday night going into the early hours of Sunday morning.
The committee updated its post and said: "The incident that occurred last night with the tree has been resolved between the committee and the individual involved. We appreciate this individual coming forward. The picture was published on social media before the Christmas tree committee was made aware."
Independent Cllr Aidan Mullins said work on the tree had only been completed on Saturday night ahead of the official lighting next Saturday.
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Cllr Mullins said the man is believed to have climbed to the very top of the tree. “It’s lucky he didn’t fall, he went up to the top of it,” he said.
He doesn't believe the incident will delay or affect the official turning on of the lights in Portarlington next Saturday, November 29 at 7pm when the Santa Truck and the big man himself, Santa Clause, will also be in attendance.