A CCTV POLE deemed ‘vandal proof’ by engineers was destroyed after a stolen lorry reversed over it as a drug shipment had just arrived into Dublin.
The CCTV camera, which was installed in the Cherry Orchard area of Ballyfermot in the New Year, had been the subject of a number of targeted attacks.
The camera is so strong that it can record multiple car registrations at a time as well as having the capability of zooming in on one area while still focusing on another.
Vandals, working on behalf of a serious crime outfit in the area, had been attempting for some time to destroy the pole. Cars had been stolen and rammed into it. Substations controlling its power supply had also been set on fire before it was finally put out of action.
The pole had been driven a number of metres below the surface of the ground as to deter would-be vandals from attempting to remove it. It had withstood a number of rammings from cars. However, it was severely damaged when a stolen lorry reversed over it on a Monday evening in early April.
The camera system’s primary function was to monitor the construction site where a number of modular homes are being built.
However, it was being used by gardaí to monitor suspicious individuals they believed to be involved in the west Dublin cocaine trade.
A large cocaine seizure recently came into Dublin from the Port and officers believe the destruction of the CCTV and the shipment are linked.
Well-placed sources have told TheJournal.ie that the consignment of drugs was to be moved through the Cherry Orchard area and delivered to houses used to cut the drug. It is then moved through the west Dublin area to low-level dealers.
It had cost DCC €43,000 to install the system in the first place. It will now cost slightly more to reinstall as work must be done to reset and reinforce the pole so a similar incident doesn’t occur in the future.
Gardaí are investigating the incident.
A spokesman said: “A rigid body truck, which has been reported stolen, was used to demolish a pole fitted with a CCTV system and equipment. No arrests have been made and the matter is under investigation.”
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