‘Unfair’ to target frontline gardaí in breath-test scandal

Frontline gardaí and supervisors are expected to fight any attempt by management — acting under Government pressure — to single them out for disciplinary action for the inflation of breath-test figures.

A range of Garda sources said it would be “unfair” to target those on the frontline when the Garda report on the breath-test scandal cited a range of other contributing factors — including recording problems, the absence of training, lack of supervision, and pressures from their bosses to keep figures high.

Sources also said it would be impossible to identify all gardaí involved in possible inflating as one member typically gave the breath-test figures for all gardaí involved in a checkpoint.