Calls for CCTV at Athy cemetery following grave thefts

ONGOING reports of theft and vandalism at the new St Michael’s Cemetery in Athy have led to calls for surveillance measures, but a recent council report has highlighted complex privacy and legal challenges that could hinder their installation.

Athy’s Leas Cathaoirleach cllr Mark Leigh has calling on the council to install CCTV cameras at the cemetery and tabled a motion on the matter at the Athy Municipal District meeting, calling on the council to install CCTV cameras at the cemetery.

The move comes after repeated complaints from one grieving family who say keepsakes and wreaths left on their mother’s grave have been repeatedly stolen.

While these incidents have been reported to local councillors, Kildare County Council confirmed that no official reports have been made on the matter.

At the Athy Municipal District meeting, he said that the installation of CCTV would “protect the sacred space” giving grieving families the “dignity, respect and security” they deserve.

Cllr Leigh believed the incidents may be opportunistic rather than personal but the situation demanded a proactive response.

He said: “Most other local authorities have found ways to use CCTV in line with GDPR. I believe Kildare should be leading the way in good practice.” 

While CCTV is set to installed at a cemetery in neighbouring Carlow, Kildare County Council’s response to the motion outlined several serious concerns surrounding the deployment of CCTV in such sensitive spaces.

While acknowledging that CCTV might deter vandalism and aid in security, the report notes that cemeteries are places of quiet reflection and grief, where surveillance could intrude on mourners' privacy.

It also flagged the significant legal and logistical complexities involved in operating surveillance systems within such settings.

The report also highlighted strict data protection obligations under GDPR. As CCTV systems capture personal data, the council would need to ensure secure storage, transparency in data use, and full compliance with legal standards. 

Despite these obstacles, the issue continues to stir public concern and is not confined to one location. Reports of grave theft and vandalism have been reported online across the county – and the country.

While the council has yet to make a final decision, the issue has opened up a broader debate about balancing privacy with protection, and whether modern surveillance has a place in spaces designed for solace and remembrance.