Judge orders CCTV for clubs

LIMERICK gardaí have got judicial backing in their bid to have every late night venue covered by high-quality CCTV.

Late night clubbers will from now on be under constant CCTV scrutiny due to new guidelines drawn up by the local court.

Judge Tom O’Donnell has issued an ultimatum to club owners that they will no longer get late night drink licences unless they can satisfy his court that their premises are monitored by high quality CCTV surveillance cameras.

The judge said he has decided to take this course of action due to the increase in serious clubland assaults.

Judge O’Donnell has told club owners that if a serious assault takes place in a crowded environment such as a club it was essential that high quality CCTV footage would be required to track down the culprits.

He said poor quality CCTV images was also a problem.

Under his new approach, the judge said if he encounters CCTV difficulties in cases brought before him, he will reconsider granting exemptions.

Judge O’Donnell said: “I don’t want to use this as a beating stick. But CCTV is a very valuable tool to absolve someone or prove the facts.”

Limerick gardaí have welcomed the new move on CCTV compliance.