Town’s CCTV plan hits a snag

A CALL for a CCTV system to monitor public order on the streets of top tourist town Killarney has been supported by only some local elected representatives.

A number of violent incidents on the streets of the normally peaceful town in recent years have given some cause for concern.

Fine Gael’s Cathal Walshe proposed the town council should consider the installation of a CCTV to give gardaí an ‘extra eye’ on the streets.

“The cameras work very well in Tralee, using a communications room in the Garda station from where gardaí can be called quickly to trouble spots in the town,’ said Cllr Walshe, a retired garda.

Killarney mayor Donal Grady supported the proposal, at this week’s town council meeting, saying five cameras should be sufficient.

He rejected suggestions cameras could invade people’s right to privacy.

“If people are doing nothing wrong, they’ve nothing to worry about,” the mayor remarked.

However, Cllr Hugh Courtney (FG) feared cameras placed prominently around the town could send out the wrong message about Killarney.

People could get the idea Killarney was not a safe place, he suggested.

Labour councillor Sean O’Grady said there was a danger the cameras could be over-relied upon to detect public order offences, adding most public order incidents occurred off the main streets.

Town clerk Michael O’Leary said CCTV was a matter for the Joint Policing Committee (JLC) in Kerry as data protection issues were involved.

The issue will now be considered by the JLC.