Video spy to help Tralee Garda efforts

June 1995

TRALEE criminals be warned, the walls have eyes and they are watching you!

In a bid to crack down on crime, Tralee Gardai, in a joint venture with Tralee Chamber of Commerce, have introduced the latest in video camera surveillance to monitor the centre of town 24 hours a day.

Four video cameras are being installed at strategic locations around the town and will enable Gardai to keep an electronic eye on what is going on 24 hours a day. Cameras have already been installed at the Brandon Hotel and on top of the Munster Warehouse in The Mall. There are also plans to instal a camera on Rock Street once a suitable location is found. It is not yet known where the fourth camera will be placed.

Inspector Barry O’Rourke said he believes the cameras will be a major help to the Gardai as they tackle crime in the town.

“The Gardai will use what ever technical assistance we can to help us with our work,” he said.

“The public have been familiar with internal video cameras in shops and banks for years, what we are doing follows the same principle, the only difference being that the cameras are outside. “These cameras have been used in other urban settings with great success. In Dublin where they have been in operation for some time and Gardai say they have been a major help,” he continued.

Inspector O’Rourke said the Gardai have received no complaints that the video cameras are an invasion of privacy.

“As a result of the RTE television programme, where a number of criminals have been identified on security videos, the public have seen for themselves the advantages that using such a monitoring system brings,” he said

Welcoming the introduction of video monitoring, The President ot Tralee Chamber of Commerce, Denis O’Leary said that as well as the security dimension the cameras will also be able to assist with traffic management.

“Through these cameras the Gardai will he made aware of traffic congestion around the town when it occurs and will then be able to put in place measures to relieve the situation,” he said.