Arsonists target speed detection van

GARDA Commissioner Fachtna Murphy has condemned an arson attack on a speed detection van and said it could have had “tragic consequences” for the staff member inside.

The GoSafe van was conducting a speed survey on Carrick Road in Dundalk, Co Louth, early yesterday morning, when it was set on fire.

A window was smashed in and the front compartment set ablaze.

While gardaí won’t know the cause of the fire until a full forensic test is carried out, they suspect some sort of can of petrol or lighter fuel may have been used.

The operator, who was in the back of the van with the camera, smelled smoke and managed to get out in time. The van was completely destroyed.

Gardaí are looking for a silver car and its two occupants, who are suspected of carrying out the attack.

Underlining how serious the authorities are taking the incident, Commissioner Murphy issued a statement strongly condemning the attack.

“I want to condemn in the strongest possible terms this morning’s attack on a GoSafe van and GoSafe staff. It was an outrageous and reckless act which could have had grave and tragic consequences,” he said.

“GoSafe van personnel are out on our roads day and night working with An Garda Síochána to reduce speed-related collisions and stop the needless loss of lives on our roads. It is important work directed at ensuring that fewer families and communities here have to endure the pain and suffering which follows collisions and deaths on our roads.”

GoSafe won a Government award to operate the national system of private speed cameras.

The system began operating last Wednesday week and will build up from 750 hours coverage this month to a maximum of 6,000 hours in February.

The cameras rotate between 750 high-risk sites across the country.

GoSafe also have vans conducting surveys of speed on certain roads. It was one of these vans that was attacked yesterday.

These vans are not marked, unlike the ones that actually carry out the speed detection function.

These latter vans are clearly visible to motorists and have the GoSafe name, as well as fluorescent signs and camera images.

Sources said it was possible the attackers did not know the van was used for either speed detection or surveys.

“It is possible they did not know what it was used for, but then again there’s not too many vans parked on the side of a road getting burnt out for no reason,” said one source.

A Garda spokesman said the incident happened at around 4.45am.

“Gardaí in Dundalk are appealing to the public for any information which would assist their investigation of the incident,” he said.

“In particular, they are appealing to anyone who might have seen a silver car in the area which it is believed had two occupants.”