M50 pile-up: Army rejects call to suspend trucks

THE Defence Forces has ruled out calls for the suspension of the use of army trucks for moving army personnel following a multi-vehicle collision on the M50 yesterday in which 28 soldiers were injured.

PDFORRA, the trade union representing rank-and-file members of the Defence Forces, expressed concern about the safety of its members travelling in such vehicles until they were fitted with additional safety features.

PDFORRA spokesman Simon Devereux claimed the issue of safety regarding military trucks had already been raised after a previous road accident at Granard, Co Longford, in June 2007 in which 12 members of the Defence Forces were injured.