Helen McEntee: Gardaí will not use body cameras for live surveillance

Gardaí in Dublin begin pilot phase of bodyworn cameras, to be followed shortly by their colleagues in Waterford and Limerick

Taoiseach Simon Harris and Justice Minister Helen McEntee watch a demonstration of how footage from the new bodyworn cameras will be uploaded. They were in Store St Garda Station for the launch of the pilot phase of the new bodycam system. Picture: GIS

Gardaí are now wearing body cameras for the first time, but the Justice Minister insists they will not be used as a rolling surveillance method.

A trial run was launched in Dublin on Friday, with Taoiseach Simon Harris and Justice Minister Helen McEntee both saying that the cameras had been introduced by request of the gardaí and would make their jobs both easier and safer.