A SENIOR member of the gardaí in Limerick has said criminals in one of the city’s poorer estates are driving stolen cars into poles on which CCTV cameras are mounted and burning out the vehicles in an attempt to destroy footage of crimes.
Insp Gerry McNamara, Roxboro Garda station, confirmed this recent incident in Ballinacurra Weston, but said their attempts to destroy the camera were unsuccessful.
“There have been a number of attempts to damage cameras, but they haven’t been successful and the cameras are constantly monitored and updated,” said Insp McNamara.
He said the cameras have proved very useful in identifying perpetrators of crime.
However, Fine Gael councillor Kevin Kiely, chairman of the joint policing committee in Limerick, claimed the cameras in the estate are not being monitored.
Cllr Kiely said an independent body, rather than the Garda, should be in charge of the CCTV system.
“The gardaí have access if there’s a particular incident, but from what I hear they’re not monitored at all.
‘‘Only recently there was a bonfire located directly underneath one of the cameras on the Hyde Road,” said Cllr Kiely.
He said he was aware that Fás workers were monitoring cameras in Moyross, but “were very open to a lot of intimidation”.
Six CCTV cameras are also scheduled to be installed in Thomondgate shortly, he said.
Fine Gael councillor Jim Long said in the past three weeks there have been three attempts to sabotage CCTV footage in the Ballinacurra Weston area, which could have proven crucial to tackling organised crime.
In a second case, a digger was stolen and driven into one of the poles, and Cllr Long said attempts to prosecute offenders for illegal dumping have been hampered by attempts to move the cameras.
The councillor added that of the five cameras recently installed in the Ballinacurra area, “one is pointing towards the sky and another towards the ground”.
“We have to ask why our cameras aren’t being monitored. The criminals know it and they’re defying people and the law,” Cllr Long said.
‘‘How come we are spending taxpayers’ money on this for the safety of the community when it doesn’t work?” Cllr Long asked.
Independent councillor John Gilligan, a member of the policing committee, said he was aware that there was a concerted effort to burn down cameras.“What they’re attempting to do is totally futile.”