Probe into microwaving of urine sample

Gardaí have confirmed that an investigation has been launched into the possible microwaving of a urine sample in a drink driving case — so as to get the driver off the hook.

Two workers at a post office in Co Roscommon were questioned late last month amid suspicions that the sample had been tampered with before it arrived at the Medical Bureau of Road Safety in Dublin for analysis.

When the sample was checked, it was found to have zero alcohol content. The motorist who had provided the sample had been arrested by gardaí on suspicion of drink-driving.

Gardaí said they would not be commenting on the case yesterday, apart from confirming that a file has been sent to the DPP.

The only reason the motorist in the initial arrest was required to provide a urine sample was because a breathalyser machine — which provides an accurate blood-alcohol reading at the garda station — was unavailable at the time.

The sample was then placed in the special sealed box and sent by registered post to Dublin.

However, when it was analysed, it showed no trace of alcohol — alerting gardaí to the possibility that it had been tampered with.

One possibility is that it was placed in a microwave, although it is not known whether seals on the package had been broken.

It is understood CCTV footage was reviewed at the post office in addition to the two workers being interviewed. They were later released without charge.

A Garda source said that tampering with samples was “not completely unheard of” and that some cases had emerged over the years.

The greater use of breathalyser machines has meant a fall in the number of samples that need to be sent for analysis to the Medical Bureau of Road Safety.

It is not known what connection, if any, the post office workers had with the motorist in the case.

Proof of postage of any parcel containing a blood or urine sample forms part of the evidence in any case which makes it to court, as is the certification from the Medical Bureau of Road Safety.