‘Coked up’ driver tried jumping the border
The St Brigid’s Bank Holiday Weekend may be a relatively new event on the annual calendar but some of the same old issues still arose for members of An Garda Síochána on patrol, with one cocaine-fuelled driver caught after initially leading officers on a high-speed chase before escaping across the border.
An Garda Síochána implemented a nationwide Road Safety Enforcement Operation last weekend, urging road users to be safe targetting offences including driving under the influence of an intoxicant, not wearing a seatbelt, speeding and using a mobile phone while driving.
On Saturday, February 3, Cavan Roads Policing Unit conducted a series of speed checks on the N3 at Butlersbridge clocking a car being driven at 137kmph in a 100 zone.
When attempting to stop this vehicle, gardaí say the driver committed “a number of dangerous manoeuvres on the road at high speed” before fleeing across the border.
Approximately 10 minutes later members of the Cavan Roads Policing Unit again encountered the same car being driven in Ballyconnell area and it was “subsequently intercepted”.
A spokesperson for the force confirmed that the driver of the offending vehicle was “arrested for the earlier offences” but also “failed a drugs test for cocaine. The car was detained for no insurance. The driver is charged to court for the dangerous driving offences.”
The following day, Sunday, February 4, members of the Cavan Roads Policing Unit conducted a high-visibility operation around Cootehill where a “significant number” of detections were made.
Three drivers were arrested on suspicion of drug driving, and five vehicles were seized under the Road Traffic Act for no insurance and no tax.
A number of Fixed Charge Penalty Notices (FCPNs) were also issued to drivers for no tax, NCT and other offences.
Multi-agency checkpoint
The offences follow a number of serious incidents reported on local roads last week.
The Cavan Roads Policing Unit conducted multi-agency checkpoints on the N3 and N55 with the RSA, the HSA, the Department of Social Protection and Cavan County Council in which a number of vehicles were inspected for roadworthiness, load safety, waste materials and permits.
Checks were also carried out for intoxicated drivers, drivers and passengers not wearing seatbelts, and for use of a mobile phone while driving.
One driver was found to be driving while already disqualified. The same person failed a roadside drug test. “On arrest blood samples were taken and a court appearance will be next.”