Fahey says sorry for speeding

MINISTER of State Frank Fahey contacted the Taoiseach yesterday to explain how his ministerial car was caught speeding last week.

Mr Fahey, the junior minister in the Department of Justice, also admitted that he has on occasion pressurised his driver if he was running late.

The Galway West TD made a full public apology yesterday for the incident last Tuesday night, in which his civilian driver received an on-the-spot fine.

The car was travelling at 79mph in a 60mph zone on the N6 between Craughwell and Loughrea in Co Galway.

This is the latest in a series of incidents involving ministerial cars. Only a fortnight ago, Eamon Ó Cuiv’s car was involved in a collision with a hire care occupied by tourists near Muckross in Co Kerry.

The most controversial incident was when John O’Donoghue’s car was recorded doing a high speed several years ago in Kerry.

Mr O’Donoghue was not in the car at the time, but his wife was a passenger.

Unlike ministers of state, who employ civilian drivers, the official cars of senior ministers are driven by gardaí. Because they are on official duty, they are exempt from prosecution.

Yesterday, Mr Fahy said that neither he nor his driver had any excuse for travelling above the speed limit.

“I was not aware that he was doing that speed. I was doing a bit of work at the time. Obviously it’s a mistake on our part,” he told RTÉ. He accepted that there were times in the past when his car had travelled over the speed limit. “I can assure you it will not happen again.”

A Department of Justice spokesperson said yesterday that the minister, Michael McDowell, has not issued any guidelines relating to the official cars of senior ministers.

The garda press office was not in a position to say yesterday whether or not the commissioner has issued directives to garda drivers assigned to ministers in relation to speed limits.

Meanwhile, gardaí have appealed for witnesses to the M50 motorway crash that has left two children fighting for their lives.

Motorists travelling on the route, who may have seen the three cars prior to Sunday morning’s accident, are being asked to come forward. A southbound green Toyota Camry crashed into the paths of the two northbound cars, a silver Toyota and a silver Nissan.

The accident happened between the Blanchardstown and Finglas exits.