Drink-drive arrest ‘embarrassing’

THE arrest last week of a senior road traffic officer on suspicion of drink driving was “embarrassing” for the force, the garda association said yesterday.

But the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) supported Superintendent Jim Fitzgerald’s entitlement to retire on a full pension of €46,000 and a once-off gratuity of around €135,000.

“Indeed it is embarrassing, not only for the superintendent himself but for the organisation in general,” said AGSI president Paschal Feeney.

He said Supt Fitzgerald was no different than any other person. “The same rules, the same laws, apply to Supt Fitzgerald as anyone else,” he said.

Mr Feeney also called for mandatory testing of all drivers involved in traffic accidents for alcohol and illegal drugs.

He called for a series of measures to prevent situations like last week’s multiple car pile-up in Kildare, in which a young mother lost her life.

The association boss told delegates he also favoured a zero limit for alcohol for drivers.

“There is overwhelming evidence that either drink or drugs or a combination of both is a major factor in a very high percentage of road accidents,” he said.

Mr Feeney said he was stuck in his car for five hours as emergency services responded to the multiple crashes on the M7 last Tuesday, in which 24-year-old mother Evelyn Moyles died. Mr Feeney said cars were driving too fast for the prevailing foggy conditions.

“Tánaiste, I urge you to use your influence so that we have a graded system of speed limits to cater for situations such as last week.

“That we immediately make provision for the installation of overhead warning signs on motorways in particular, and likewise introduce a system of early warning of traffic accidents ahead, diverting motorists off motorways.”

In relation to another tragedy — the death of Sergeant Tania Corcoran and her baby Zach during birth — Mr Feeney said his members felt the media “had reached a new low”.

This followed coverage of the tragedy in certain newspapers, particularly the Sunday Independent.

Mr Feeney said he had met with the general secretary of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ).

He said the AGSI had now decided to ask all the garda associations, and the Garda Commissioner, to join them in a united approach to the National Newspapers of Ireland.

“We will be asking the newspapers — and also the broadcasting organisations in due course — to put in place a set of protocols for dealing with cases of great personal and family tragedy.”

Mr Feeney also called on the Tánaiste to bring in legislation to prevent politicians from making representations for the early release of prisoners.