Security concern over drone activity

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A drone which raised some security concerns while being flown over Kilcullen yesterday may have been 'tourist-related', writes Brian Byrne.

There were several sightings of the unmanned aerial vehicle flying over parish property and a residential area yesterday morning.

It was first reported by a parishioner who saw a white van 'with people in it' parked outside the parish church before and after mass yesterday morning, and saw 'a big black drone' being flown over the church area.

Your editor also saw the same UAV hovering over the property, backing on to Sunbury, for some time during the morning. It was also flown over Sunbury.

Later, a man and a woman were seen taking photographs of the ornamental bicycle at the old CPC gates, and one of the couple had what looked like a drone under their arm.

When it was described afterwards to local drone operator Mark Phelan, he said it sounded like 'an expensive piece of kit'. He suggested that the filming might have been 'a tourist thing'. He told the Diary his drones, which he uses in his MP Geomatics surveying business, were NOT being flown yesterday.

Afterwards, Parish Administrator Fr Niall Mackey recalled that there had been some filming going on around the church in recent days, and he wondered was yesterday's drone incident related to it. He said the parish wasn't undertaking any activity which involved a drone.

The use of drones by criminals to 'case' properties was highlighted last week by Muintir na Tire, in a presentation to the Oireachtas Committee on Justice.

And Garda stations across the country have been told by Garda HQ that footage and images on any drones seized by gardai should be downloaded.

'Inappropriate' use of a drone camera may result in prosecution, according to the Irish Aviation Authority, with which all drones weighing over 1kg must be registered.

In addition to restrictions on flying drones closer than 5km from an airport, under the Small Unmanned Aircraft and Rockets Order, they may not be flown over urban areas, over assemblies of people, or within 30 metres of any person, vessel, vehicle or structure not under the control of the operator.

NOTE: This story has been updated to take account of further information from readers.

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