Road safety group welcomes jail term for GAA legend

ROAD safety chiefs yesterday welcomed the jail sentence handed down to a GAA legend for failing to provide a blood or urine sample after his arrest on suspicion of drink driving.

Noel Brett, chief executive of the Road Safety Authority (RSA), said he was personally delighted to see the judiciary supporting the education and enforcement being carried out by gardaí in relation to drink driving.

He was speaking following Judge Michael Patwell’s decision to sentence former Cork dual star Teddy McCarthy to two months in jail for the offence.

McCarthy, 42, of Woodbrook, Castlejane, Glanmire, Co Cork, was arrested on November 21 last after he was seen driving his car on the wrong side of the road. Gardaí told Cobh District Court on Wednesday that McCarthy’s eyes were glazed, his speech was slurred and he was unsteady on his feet. He was charged with dangerous driving and with failure to provide a sample.

He was disqualified from driving for two years and was fined a total of €1,150.

Mr Brett said the courts had made huge strides in recent months in dealing with drink driving cases — an offence he described as “socially reprehensible”.

“In 2006, we’ve seen an 80% increase in the number of people who had their drink driving cases concluded in the court,” he said.

“There are about 800 people currently in jail as a result of dangerous or impaired driving charges.”

But he said the public has been calling for stiffer sentences to deal with the killer behaviour. He also warned that since March 5, refusal or failure to provide a blood or urine sample carries an automatic four-year disqualification.