Sligo councillor wants to make it an offence to film and share fatal crash scenes

By Philip Rooney, The Sligo Champion

A motion before the September meeting of Sligo County Council has called on the Government to introduce legislation to protect the privacy and dignity of victims and families following serious and fatal road traffic collisions.

Cllr Marie Casserly’s motion calls on the Minister for Justice to consider making it an offence to record or share images or videos from collision scenes where doing so causes unnecessary distress to victims or their families. It also calls for a national public awareness campaign encouraging people not to record or share such content on social media.

Speaking to her motion, Cllr Casserly said, “At the worst moment of a family’s life, the last thing they should have to endure is seeing images or videos of a loved one shared online. Nobody should discover or relive such a tragedy through a phone screen.

“Most people would never intentionally add to a family’s grief, but once something is shared online, it can be copied and circulated far beyond the control of the person who posted it.”

Cllr Casserly is also calling on the Government to examine Caoimhe’s Law in Northern Ireland, which seeks greater protection for victims and families by addressing the recording and sharing of images and videos from serious and fatal collisions.

“Of course, any legislation must protect legitimate evidence gathering and public safety. This is about preventing unnecessary and harmful recording and sharing.”

Stressing the human impact and the effect such images or recordings can have on traumatised families, Cllr Casserly insisted, “A serious road traffic collision is not entertainment or social media content. Behind every collision are real people and, in the case of a fatal collision, families whose lives can be changed forever.”

Stressing the seriousness of the matter, Cllr Casserly added, “We need legislation, but we also need compassion. Nobody should have to discover the final moments of a loved one’s life through a video on social media. We can and should do better.”

The motion received widespread support when it was discussed with Cllr Ann Higgins stating the taking of such images and videos, “Simply adds to the trauma of families simply for likes.”

Cllr Dara Mulvey also voiced his support saying, “Some of these people wouldn’t phone the emergency services but would keep filming.”

Article Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.