*Shannon Town Park.
CCTV cameras are in place at Shannon Town Park but are not activated which has been labelled as “crazy” by one county councillor.
Officially opened in November 2019, the €1.5m Shannon Town Park has been a frequent hub of anti-social behaviour in the town. It became the first facility in the Mid-West region to have a cycle pump track while other facilities also include an adventure play area, water feature, bandstand, seating and picnic areas.
Over the summer, there have been reports of open drug dealing, substance use, fires and littering in the Town Park.
In a proposal before the Shannon Municipal District, Cllr Tony Mulcahy (FG) asked that An Garda Síochána and Clare County Council be brought together to “re-activate the existing camera network”.
Acting senior executive officer in the Corporate Services section of the Council, John Corry stated, “The cameras in the Shannon Town Park are not activated, as the legal basis for their activation is not in place”.
Corry explained, “Members will be aware that the use by public bodies of surveillance technologies receives considerable attention and the Data Protection Commission has been very clear in issued decisions and guidance about surveillance in parks and on streets for purposes related to the prevention, detection, investigation or prosecution of offences. The law on the matter has also changed”.
Speaking at a meeting of the Shannon MD, Cllr Mulcahy remarked, “this is the famous CCTV and I don’t know where this is going”. He said, “I see a lot of debate over it and pictures from colleagues in the past that have had meetings, what we now need to do is move it on”. Clarity is needed from Shannon Garda Station on “who is leading this,” Mulcahy maintained.
Cathaoirleach of the Shannon MD, Cllr John Crowe (FG) suggested his party colleague raise the matter with Gardaí during their upcoming briefing. “The next meeting needs to be with the relevant people to move it forward, it is not good enough,” Cllr Mulcahy responded. “It is only in the event of a crime that these are looked at as far as I’m aware,” he said.
Seconding the motion, Cllr Pat O’Gorman (FF) informed the meeting during his term in the Chair last year he attended a meeting with the head of each Municipal District and Gardaí. “We asked the same question, what we have in the Town Hall and Town Park will work, what they have in Ennis is pointing at footpaths because of GDPR, I don’t know where it will end up, An Garda Síochána say they can’t turn on because of legislation and Municipal Districts say they can’t because of GDPR”. He added, “We have cameras in the town park costing big monies but we can’t use them”.
“It is crazy to think that you can invest in something and not turn it on,” commented Cllr David Griffin (FF). “Morale with Gardaí is low because they are doing their best to get people convicted and they walk into court knowing someone has committed an offence but they walk out free because there hasn’t been enough evidence”. The Newmarket-on-Fergus native added, “I don’t think anybody should be able to hid behind data protection on this”.
Offering further background, Corry stated, “The Garda Siochána (Digital Recording Devices) Act, 2023 is now the relevant piece of legislation. In particular, part 5 of that Act, concerning authorisation for installation and operation of CCTV for the prevention, investigation and prosecution of crime is awaiting commencement. Under the 2023 Act, an application could be made to the Commissioner of An Garda Sochána by either a local authority or by An Garda Siochána to install public realm surveillance, accompanied by a data protection impact assessment and documented evidence as to the necessity and proportionality of the proposed surveillance. Under the 2023 Act, a code of practice is to be put by the Commissioner of An Garda Siochána for the approval of the minister to become the statutory code to apply to public CCTV surveillance schemes. The commencement of part 5 of the 2023 Act and the statutory code of practice is awaited”.
