New laws, garda training to tackle ‘outrageously reckless’ driving

Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan speaking to members of the media at the Department of Justice in Dublin, following a crash on the M9 northbound at Junction 3 in Co Kildare where five teenagers, all occupants of one of the vehicles, died and four people were seriously injured. Picture: Niall Carson/PA Wire

The Government will consider a standalone criminal offence for driving the wrong way down a motorway, the Justice Minister has said, describing it as “lethally dangerous behaviour”.

Jim O'Callaghan said individuals who who do that, as happened with lethal consquences in Kildare, will either end up in jail or a grave.

"That is using a vehicle as a weapon, and it is a lethal form of behaviour that, as we saw over the weekend, results in deaths and serious injuries,” Mr O’Callaghan said.

Five teenagers were killed after they drove a stolen car the wrong way down the M9 on Sunday, injuring four others after hitting a car.

Mr O'Callaghan condemned the incident describing it as "reckless, criminal behaviour".

“They’ve got to stop it because we saw what happens to the people involved in that behaviour. You’ll end up in jail, or you’ll end up in a grave,” he said.

The Justice Minister denied it is becoming a crisis, but said Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly had informed him it is also happening in other countries.

He reiterated that legislation will be developed to allow Gardaí stronger protections for when they are in pursuit of a vehicle, while adding that specific pursuit training is being introduced by the Garda Commissioner.

Asked if such training might have prevented loss of life on Sunday, Mr O’Callaghan said he could not say that.

He said pursuit training would “give greater confidence” to Gardaí who believe pursuit is necessary in certain circumstances.

Asked about how people can get through to the teenagers who are carrying out the dangerous driving, Mr O’Callaghan said parents have a “big responsibility”.

“I’m conscious as well that it can be challenging and difficult for parents because of the parents' own circumstances or because of the behaviour of the individual son that may be just extremely difficult to control.

“I don’t know what gets into the mind of people who are teenagers who decide that they should drive the wrong way down the motorway. It is outrageously reckless, lethal, dangerous behaviour.

“Just basic common sense should make you realise that you’re putting yourselves at serious risk, let alone other users of the road.”

Mr O’Callaghan took aim at social media firms, saying they have a responsibility to not allow posts which glorify criminal behaviour, given it breaches their own codes of conduct.

However, he declined to call out any specific social media company.