Shatter needs to make a proper apology over penalty points affair

SO now Alan Shatter knows what it is like to be on the receiving end of political attack inspired by Garda tittle-tattle.

Mattie McGrath’s sources about Shatter’s driving were not as good as Shatter’s were about Mick Wallace’s behaviour — the minister had the advantage of a briefing from the Garda Commissioner — but they did force Shatter to explain that something different, but somewhat similar, had happened, but two years separate to when McGrath thought. And it was about something more important than using a mobile phone when driving.

Shatter was not able to fulfil a breath test when asked to do so by a garda. Having failed he blamed his asthma and then told gardaí that he was on his way home from the Dáil, where he served as a TD. The garda exercised his discretion and there is no reason we know why he shouldn’t have let Shatter go on his way. But it is somewhat embarrassing for Shatter nonetheless.