CCTV ruled out on Kerry bridges

CCTV cameras in areas where missiles have been thrown from bridges onto cars and other vehicles has been ruled out by Kerry County Council.

Earlier this year, a Garda investigation was launched following a number of incidents of criminal damage involving large stones, at Ballymacthomas, outside Tralee.

Councillor Pat McCarthy (FG) has called for covert cameras to be placed on bridges crossing national primary roads to prevent people dropping stones and sandbags on to vehicles passing below.

“What happened was extremely dangerous and could have resulted in serious injury, or loss life, if a person lost control of a vehicle as a result. Residents of this rural area are shocked and upset over this sort of vandalism.”

Gardaí received reports of people throwing rocks and glass on cars from the railway bridge on the Tralee to Castleisland road under cover of darkness.

The roofs and sides of at least three cars were damaged during the incidents, but nobody was injured.

A council spokesman confirmed a Garda investigation into a number of “isolated incidents’’ of objects being thrown from bridges at Ballymacthomas, on the Tralee to Castleisland road, and Currans, on the Tralee to Killarney road.

However, providing CCTV would be extremely difficult, given the extent of the areas requiring such cover by camera. The issue is to be referred to the joint policing committee in the area.

Gardaí are also to be asked to advise on the best course of action that could be taken by the council to address “dangerous or significant antisocial behaviour”.

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