Gardaí call for better driver training

Gardaí are seeking more advanced driver training following the death of a pensioner who was hit by a patrol car, it emerged today.

Mary Seavers, 74, received fatal injuries when she was struck by an out-of-control patrol car at a bus stop in south Dublin in May last year.

The Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) said the basic two-week car course did not provide the level of skill required for traffic patrolling.

“High speed driving is among the most dangerous activities carried out by gardaí,” said Eddie Golden of the Garda Headquarters section.

He said only a fraction of gardaí had completed advanced driving courses.

He added that garda management had recently decided to issue high powered vehicles, despite a recommendation from garda trainers that all of the drivers should be first given three-week training courses.

“I think personally that this is a very dangerous precedent to set in public at this time,” he said.

Sergeant Colm Finn told the AGSI annual conference in Killarney that he had to carry out an investigation into a fatality caused by a patrol car.

He was the forensic collision investigator who gave evidence at the inquest into the death of Mary Seavers last month.

“It is very important that we have proper training. It is very important that we know what to do when we go out in a patrol car,” he said.

The Director of Public Prosecutions decided last year that no criminal proceedings would be brought in relation to the death of Mrs Seavers.

The AGSI delegates heard that the current standard driving course was being expanded from two weeks to three weeks to include training on driving with blue lights.

They passed the motion to seek advanced car driving training and a fast roads safety course for all garda drivers.