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- Pilot phase of Garda body-worn cameras commences in Dublin, with Waterford and Limerick to follow.
- Gardaí will upload footage at the end of each shift to assist in safe policing and evidence gathering.
- Pilot phase will inform rollout across the country.
Frontline Gardaí have commenced the use of body-worn cameras, following the enactment of the Gardaí Síochána (Recording Devices) Act 2023. Garda Commissioner, Mr Drew Harris attended Store Street Garda station in Dublin’s North Inner-city today to launch the pilot phase of body-worn cameras for frontline Gardaí.
The pilot – or ‘proof-of-concept’ – phase will take place in Dublin, followed by Limerick and Waterford, with body-worn cameras being introduced in the following locations:-
DMR South Central, Pearse Street Garda Station, Kevin Street Garda Station, Dublin.
DMR North Central, Store Street Garda Station, Dublin.
Waterford Division, Waterford Garda Station.
Limerick Garda Division, Henry Street Garda Station.
Note: It is fair to assume that with body-worn cameras going immediately to three locations in Dublin City, sadly same indicates an area not being properly governed and not obedient to Irish Republican laws.
The Government is committed to providing An Garda Síochána with the resources they need; reflected in the allocation of €2.3 billion of taxpayers money in Budget 2024. This ensures every member of An Garda Síochána is equipped with the latest technology to keep every community across the country safe.
Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said: “The ability of An Garda Síochána to securely acquire and process digital evidence is a key feature of modern policing. This morning’s launch of a proof of concept for Body Worn Cameras and the supporting Digital Evidence Management System (DEMS) is an important milestone for An Garda Síochána towards the implementation of Information-Led Policing.
Body Worn Cameras, supported by the underlying legislation, technology and training, will act as an important evidentiary tool.
International experience has also shown that body-worn cameras will increase safety for Gardaí and the public.
Now, through this proof of concept, we will be able to refine our systems and processes for Body Worn Cameras based on experience and feedback.”
The Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Act 2023 was signed into law last December. The Act provides for body-worn cameras, Garda CCTV, automatic number plate recognition, and Community CCTV.
Each body-worn camera can record footage to its own internal encrypted storage, which will be uploaded when the Garda docks the camera in a Garda station. Body-worn camera footage is uploaded at the end of a shift so it can be used as evidence at court or is deleted after an agreed time period if it’s not required as evidence.
Today May 30th, the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB), assisted by Gardaí; involving 150 personnel, conducted searches at some 20 locations across counties Tipperary, Limerick, Clare, Dublin and Mayo.
During the searches, 27 motor vehicles were seized, together with €218,000 in cash; six Rolex watches; five jet-skis’; two rigid inflatable boats; Louis Vuitton bags, various electronic devices, suspected cocaine and paper records including financial documentation.
One person was arrested in connection with the seizure of the suspected cocaine and remains detained at a Limerick city Garda station.
The operation was conducted as part of an ongoing investigation into individuals linked to a Munster-based organised crime grouping.
The operation targeted persons which CAB believe is involved in laundering the proceeds of organised crime, through outlets including the second hand motor trade, real estate purchases, property developments and the purchase of high value goods.
In a statement, Gardaí confirm that today’s operation marks a significant development in CAB’s continuing “Proceeds of Crime” investigation.
An investigation is currently underway into the circumstances surrounding the death of a man aged in his 50s, following a workplace related incident on site at the Roscrea Wastewater Treatment Plant in North Tipperary, shortly after 12:30pm yesterday afternoon.
Uisce Eireann has stated that was with deep regret and sadness that a man, working on behalf of their contractor, lost his life following an incident yesterday, Wednesday May 29th. The incident occurred at Roscrea Wastewater Treatment Plant, Roscrea, Co. Tipperary.
They further stated that quote; “Our thoughts are with the family, work colleagues and friends of the deceased at this very difficult time. Uisce Éireann are liaising with the Health and Safety Authority and relevant authorities in relation to this incident.”
Gardai have confirmed that the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) together with the local coroner had been notified and the man’s body was removed to University Hospital Limerick (UHL), with enquires continuing.
The HSA said it is aware of the incident and they have launched a full investigation.
A former Thurles Circuit Court judge, due to be sentenced today for the sexual abuse of six young men, some 30 years ago, has had the case adjourned, yet again, before Ms Justice Eileen Creedon, until Friday of this week.
Mr Gerard O’Brien, aged 59 years, of the School House, Slievenamon Road, Thurles, Co Tipperary, had been convicted in December 2023 last, at the Central Criminal Court on one count of attempted anal rape and eight counts of sexual assault, relating to all six victims.
The offences were understood to have occurred at locations in Dublin, between March 1991 and November 1997, during a time when Mr O’Brien was employed as a teacher at Christian Brothers College, Monkstown, Co. Dublin.
His victims; four of whom were students or former students, were then aged between 17 and 24 and same had previously indicated they wished for O’Brien to be named publicly, while maintaining their own personal anonymity.
Mr O’Brien was born with the rare congenital condition, known as Phocomelia, which has resulted in him being born with no arms and only one leg; same injuries brought on by the congenital anomaly of the drug Thalidomide, brought into prominence as a characteristic side effect of the use of the drug, used during pregnancy.
Mr Justice Alexander Owens had previously indicated, that his provisional view was that he would impose a custodial sentence on Mr O’Brien and had sought a report from the Irish Prison Services in relation to the facilities which would be available to O’Brien, before remanding him on continuing bail until today.
O’Brien had pleaded not guilty to all the allegations. The former teacher; Tipperary Fianna Fáil Councillor and Circuit Court judge (appointed to the latter post in 2015), resigned as a judge in January 2024.
A Thurles man who went to a homeless unit to complain about a burglary at his home, and then attacked a man using a lump hammer which fractured his skull, has lost his appeal against the severity of his sentence.
Mr Donnacha Loughnane, aged 57 years, is currently serving 4.5 years for the violent attack, which occurred back in February of 2022 last.
A court heard how Mr Loughnane, who lived in the vicinity of a residential unit for homeless men in Thurles, had become totally obsessed with the idea that his victim had broken into his home and that of his parents home, and had removed items.
Mr Loughnane, on February 18th 2022 last, was captured on CCTV, at 4:41pm, banging on the front door of the homeless unit, before kicking it and walking away.
Later at 6:28pm he returned and spoke to the acting social care manager of the unit, communicating through a window in the building, complaining that the residents of the homeless unit were stealing items from his home.
At 11:10pm that night, Mr Loughnane returned to the unit, armed with a lump hammer and spoke to another social worker, this time claiming that a named resident had burgled his home and the home of his parents.
The named resident having overheard the accusation, came out, resulting in a physical and verbal row between him and Mr Loughnane. Mr Loughnane removed a lump hammer from his pocket and struck the victim across his head, having been first struck by the victim he had accused.
The victim fell to the ground and Mr Loughnane struck him at least six times, during this brutal attack.
Mr Loughnane was later arrested but first denied carrying out the assault, despite CCTV placing him at the scene. The victim, when rushed to hospital, was found to have suffered a number of fractures to his skull and eye socket, four wounds to his head and a wound to his ring finger.
Mr Loughnane, a single man, was later convicted for the assault, and on January 12th 2023, he was sentenced to five years with six months suspended for the assault causing harm and four years with six months suspended for the production of an article, same capable of inflicting serious injury or even death.
The Court of Appeal agreed with the initial judge’s sentencing decision and have now dismissed Mr Loughnane’s appeal.
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