Nine drivers arrested in Garda drink-driving blitz

Nine people were arrested on suspicion of drink driving during a co-ordinated, nationwide Garda blitz over the weekend.

And as of last night, one person had been killed on the roads, compared with three fatalities over the entire Easter bank holiday weekend last year.

The drink driving arrests brought to almost 2,000 the number of motorists arrested for drink driving since the start of the year.

The latest arrests came as several mandatory alcohol testing (MAT) checkpoints were set up simultaneously around more than a dozen large Irish towns between 12.30am and 1.30am yesterday as part of Operation Surround.

The checkpoints, manned by traffic units and regular units from each Garda division, were strategically positioned to effectively surround the targeted towns.

In Midleton in East Cork, three huge checkpoints were set up — at Lakeview, Castleredmond, on the Dungourney Rd, and on the relief road at Knockgriffin.

During the course of the nationwide operation, a total of 1,613 drivers were tested, with 1,604 returning negative results.

Nine drivers tested positive and over the limit and were arrested on suspicion of drink driving.

Assistant Commissioner John Twomey of the Garda National Traffic Bureau warned motorists that enforcement action to targeting intoxicated drivers will continue.

“In the first three months of the year, 1,926 drivers have been arrested on suspicion of drink driving,” he said. “The vast majority act responsibly and don’t mix driving with drinking alcohol. However, nearly 2,000 drivers so far this year have behaved in a totally irresponsible manner.”

His warning came as gardaí in Wexford made an arrest following a single vehicle fatal road traffic accident on Saturday.

A 63-year-old woman died when the vehicle in which she was a passenger struck a wall at Harvey Place, New Ross, at around 7pm. She was pronounced dead at scene before her body was taken to Wexford General Hospital where a postmortem will take place.

The 59-year-old man who was driving was brought to the same hospital with non life-threatening injuries.

Checkpoint statistics:

Total number of motorists tested: 1,613

Number of negative tests: 1,604

Number of positive tests (over limit): 9

Number of arrests: 9

Number of arrests for fail/refuse roadside test: 0

Number of negative tests at station (under limit): 1

Number of positive tests at station (over limit): 7

Number of fail/refuse test at station: 1