Kilkenny Garda Superintendent Derek Hughes is appealing to people to contact the Gardaí when they witness a crime before putting it on social media.
He was speaking at a joint policing committee meeting where he told the gathering that they only became aware of a recent serious assault on Kieran Street through a video shared on Facebook.
Three youths were arrested as part of their investigations but Superintendent Hughes says they can act on it quicker once they’re contacted:
“We became aware of that because it was circulating on social media and a staff member brought it to my attention and it had happened a while ago at that stage. Nobody had contacted Gardaí when it happened.
“It puts us in a far better position if we hear about it when it’s happening and it enables us to deliver the effective policing response that a situation might necessitate.
“So I would encourage anyone who witnesses any public disorder on the streets of Kilkenny to contact An Garda Síochána immediately.”