Recording & sharing footage of accidents is grotesque – Brennan

Fine Gael TD for Wicklow-Wexford Brian Brennan has today slammed the alarming practice of people who record footage at the scenes of accidents and share online.

Deputy Brennan said such behaviour is grotesque.

“Why do people behave in this fashion? Would they like someone to record them with a mobile phone if they were lying prone on the road due to an incident or collision?

“It simply should not be happening,” Deputy Brennan said.

Speaking in the Dáil this week, Deputy Brennan sought Government support for ‘The Protection of Accident Victims from Non-Consensual Recording of Images Bill’, which is currently at Committee Stage.

“As recently as the May 3rd, a young man in Cork drowned, following which his family had to appear on national media to ask witnesses not to share footage of the incident.

“Only last week, I walked down the main street of Gorey to my office and I witnessed a very, very distressing accident.

“I must complement the emergency services in Gorey for their quick response and I have to single out Dr John, Dr Cillian and Nurse Middleton.

Deputy Brennan continued: “I was stunned and simply horrified to see people driving by that accident and videoing the victim on the ground.

“This was just totally disrespectful to the person affected.

“Recording such incidents is simply repulsive and those involved in taking images of tragic scenes, sometimes fatal, much be challenged and those involved should be prosecuted.”

The Road Safety Authority have previously described such behaviour as ‘extreme rubber necking’ while An Garda Síochána have also asked road users to desist from recording scenes of incidents.