An Erris councillor has called for garda CCTV cameras to be erected at strategic locations in north Mayo to deter criminals from other regions targeting the area.
At the county Joint Policing Committee meeting on Friday last, Fine Gael Councillor Gerry Coyle spoke about an attempted burglary that took place at a property in Belmullet a number of weeks ago, and a similar incident occurred a number of hours in Roscommon, and no one was arrested in this case.
The councillor asked had a garda alert gone out to set up a roadblock between Erris and Castlebar or Ballina on that day, because if it had, than the chances of apprehending the criminals would surely have been enhanced. He argued that the erection of garda cameras at Bellacorrick Bridge would be an effective tool in fighting crime in the region.
Division Garda Chief Superintendent Raymond McMahon said a garda alert is triggered in such cases, but agreed that cameras in strategic locations would be very helpful for investigating gardai and said that new legislation is currently going through the Oireachtas that should assist in utilising this form of detection, when in place.