A senior garda
officer has criticized the use of drones at the scene of fatal accidents as “disrespectful” to both bereaved families and emergency workers, reports Breaking News.
Three Leaving Cert students, Joey Coffey, 18, Nicole Murphy, 18, and Grace McSweeney, 18, as well as Grace’s brother Luke, 24, died in Clonmel, Co Tipperary.
The gardaí said images of the aftermath of the collision were being shared on social media and messages and urged people not to do so out of respect for the youth and their families.
Father Michael Toomey said the use of a drone at the scene had sparked outrage and repeated gardaí messages that people should not use photos or share them on social media.
“Also on social media, be very respectful in commenting… Families are grieving the loss of a loved one, and that does not help in any way,” he said, reports Breaking News.
On Saturday, Superintendent Kieran Ruane asked people not to share any drone footage.
“We are aware there was a drone active while the first responders were at the scene, and it is very difficult for the members to know that there’s a drone overhead. I think it’s disrespectful to the families of the deceased, as well as to the first responders. What I would ask is footage taken by a drone, we would ask that that would be brought to the investigation team so we can assess it and I would ask our communities and nationally for people not to share such footage. It’s disrespectful and I don’t think it’s the way we want to remember these four young people,” he told reporters in Clonmel, reports Breaking News.
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