Garda road accidents increase 300%

AS THREE gardaí continued to recover in hospital after a near-fatal crash over the weekend, figures released by the Comptroller and Auditor General show a shocking 300% increase in accidents involving gardai.

Gardaí were involved in over 200 accidents last year, up from 81 in 2001. In 86 cases, gardaí themselves were blamed for causing the accident, up from 22 in 2001.

Nearly 400,000 worth of damage was caused to the vehicles involved, an average of more than 1,700. In addition, compensation and legal costs paid in 2002 as a result of accidents involving garda vehicles amounted to €3.2m, including one case where payments totalled €440,000.