Penalty points issue: Gardaí continue to miss the point

The notion that abuse of the penalty points system has continued through all the upheavals surrounding the issue, in both politics and policing, beggars belief, writes Michael Clifford

Today’s revelations of continued abuse of the penalty points system in recent years requires context. The notion that abuse of the system had continued over the last 20 months, through all the upheavals surrounding the issue, in both politics and policing, beggars belief. The only conclusion that can be reached is that those abusing the system believed that supreme impunity attached to their actions, irrespective of what was unfolding in the world outside their offices.

One of the most notable aspects to the earlier controversy was the bizarre, bordering on ludicrous, excuses that were often given for deleting points, particularly for repeat offenders.