7 December 2025
SDLP Mid Ulster District Council Group Leader Councillor Malachy Quinn has urged the Executive to back Caoimhe’s Law.
The proposed legislation would make it a criminal offence to film or distribute images or footage at the scene of road traffic collisions without lawful authority or consent.
The SDLP Opposition is bringing forward a motion to the Assembly on Monday calling on the Justice Minister to work with the Infrastructure Minister to introduce legislation. A number of affected families will visit Stormont on Monday to support the proposal.
Councillor Quinn said:
“Imagine losing a loved one or having them seriously injured in a road traffic accident only for footage to be circulated on social media or in messenger groups. That has been the reality for too many families in Northern Ireland and it has deepened their grief in the darkest moments of their lives.
“We have even had instances of families, like Caoimhe O’Brien’s, finding out she had passed away through social media before they could be informed. No family should ever find themselves in that situation, but all too often we are seeing people filming or taking photos at the scene of crashes without a thought for the impact their actions may have.
“I have direct experience of how quickly information like this can spread. I was involved in a minor car accident some years ago on my way to a council meeting and before I could contact her my wife had already seen photos of the crash on social media. Thankfully I was unharmed, but you can imagine her worry as she tried to get in touch with me and the distress this caused our family.
“The SDLP Opposition is joining with impacted families at Stormont on Monday to make a clear call on the Executive to ban the recording and sharing of images at crash sites by the public. I commend the bravery of the families who are coming forward to ensure that no one else experiences the pain of finding out such devastating news or seeing it online. The Justice and Infrastructure Ministers must listen to their stories and act now.”