Revealed: Alleged Secret Recordings Of Wicklow Fire Trucks, Which Sometimes Service Kildare, Under Scrutiny

Kfm has contacted Kildare County Council to determine if the same dashcams are installed in fire appliances used across the county.

It's been alleged that dashcams installed in cabs of fire service appliances in Wicklow, some of which serve Kildare, have been recording conversations without fire fighters being aware.

Wicklow County Council has confirmed to Kfm that it is "considering issues raised by Fire Fighters and SIPTU with regard to the installation and operation of Dashcams in a number of Fire Appliances".

It is understood that members of Wicklow’s retained fire service reportedly became aware of the issue when recorded conversations were used as part of an inquiry into an unrelated internal issue.

Kfm has contacted SIPTU for comment.

We have also contacted Kildare County Council to determine if the same dashcams are installed in fire appliances used across the county.

It is understood that up to 100 members of the Retained Fire Service are considering lodging complaints about their employer under data protection legislation.

Commenting on the alleged revelations, Sinn Fein TD John Brady has called on the Chief Fire Officer for Wicklow to clarify if the alleged recordings were authorised, and if so who was responsible for the authorisation.

Kfm spoke to the Chief Fire Officer For Wicklow, who said he can not comment on the issue.

He would neither confirm nor deny if the practice of secretly recording conversations was utilised.

Sinn Fein TD John Brady said there are strict rules in place in respect of personal privacy, including the retention of personal data under GDPR.

He said there are a number of questions that need to be answered, including:

Who authorised the recordings?

Who was aware of them?

Who has had access to the recordings?

Where are they stored?

And will they be made available to a future investigation or inquiry?

He said if the allegations are true, then the recordings need to be made available to those involved.

He has called for a full investigation, with findings made public "with the utmost urgency".

On its website, Wicklow County Council states that it is "fully committed to compliance with the requirements of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) & the Data Protection Act 2018".

It adds: "The Council aims to ensure that all employees, elected members, customers, contractors, agents, consultants, suppliers, or partners of the Council who have access to any personal data held by or on behalf of the Council, are fully aware of and abide by their duties and responsibilities under the legislation."

A spokesperson for Kildare County Council said: "Kildare Fire Service has one such system in its fleet.  The system is not currently in active use and has not been accessed at any time."