Vandalism of CCTV cameras in Limerick blamed on criminals

LOCAL POLITICIANS in Limerick were last night blaming criminal elements in the city for the destruction of CCTV cameras.

LOCAL POLITICIANS in Limerick were last night blaming criminal elements in the city for the destruction of CCTV cameras.

An estimated €120,000 of damage was caused to the network when a stolen JCB was used to knock down 9m (30ft) camera pylons on the Keyes Park estate in Southill over the weekend. Residents watched on Sunday night as the JCB-type dumper repeatedly smashed into the metal poles, downing three of them.

Local Fine Gael councillor Ger Fahy described the incident as a concerted effort by criminals to roll back advances made by gardaí and State agencies in reducing crime levels in the city.

“There is no doubt that this was a deliberate act to hit back at those that are trying to prevent crime,” he said. “The gangs are sending out a message to the powers that be that they haven’t gone away.”

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The dumper succeeded in completely knocking two poles, while a third was so badly damaged that it had to be written off.

Disruption to the network meant that a further three cameras were rendered out of action on the estate, leaving just four of them working properly.

Mr Fahy said: “The cameras have been partly responsible for reducing crime. A person who committed a murder was identified from footage, and some other serious crimes have also been solved.”

The €600,000 network of 30 cameras was installed in the area in January 2008 by the Southside Regeneration Agency – the State body charged with reducing crime and improving the quality of life on deprived housing estates on the southside of Limerick city.

Mr Fahy said local residents were bracing for further criminal activity in the wake of the damage.

Limerick Regeneration Agencies chief executive Brendan Kenny said that while the damage may have been the work of criminals, it was possible that local youths may have been involved.

He promised to have the cameras back in action as quickly as possible, and said: “They give a sense of reassurance to the people living there. They know that if something happens then it can be followed up later by the gardaí.”