Áras intruder evaded 24-hour CCTV cameras
THE intruder who accosted President Michael D Higgins in his Áras an Uachtaráin office would have had to evade CCTV, which is supposed to be monitored from a control room that is manned 24 hours a day.
The Irish Daily Mail yesterday revealed how a woman in her 50s managed to drive through the gates to the front door without being detected or stopped by anybody.
Sources have told the Irish Mail on Sunday, that even if the gates were left open during maintenance – as was reported – there is a mystery over how she evaded other basic security measures on the 130-acre site.
The road from the gates to the front door, approximately 500m, is lined with CCTV and meant to be monitored.
Our sister paper reported President Michael D Higgins was confronted in his office by the protester, in the biggest security breach in the history of the Presidency. The paper revealed how the housing protester, walked unchallenged into the official residence on Friday, September 14. But sources told the MoS that even after getting in the gates she would have taken the CCTV-covered route to the house.
They were baffled as to how she got in the front door – which also is thought to have been open at the time – and continued through the house to the President’s office.
‘It’s really hard to understand. Somebody seriously took their eye off the ball here,’ the source said.
The woman, who did not pose a danger, could have been arrested under the Public Order Act for trespassing in a way that is ‘likely to cause fear’, but was not, at President Higgins’s request. She was allowed to drive out of the Áras.
Another source said the woman was lucky. She could have faced 12 months in jail or a fine of up to €1,270. Now, there are two investi- gations under way as a result. President Higgins was not attacked or assaulted and gardaí arrived a short time later.
Garda Headquarters did not comment on security matters, but it was confirmed that a senior officer is investigating the incident. And a review of security at the Áras is being carried out by another officer, in which President Higgins will be interviewed, along with gardaí and staff at the Áras.
The President’s Press Office said it would not be commenting on security matters.
Armed and uniformed gardaí, as well as Defence Forces personnel, are posted to the Áras but gardaí are responsible for the security. The Defence Forces carry out administrative roles on a daily basis such as organising drivers and the Aide-de-Camp.
The security breach is a major embarrassment and while there is relief that nothing serious happened it is expected that disciplinary proceedings will be started.