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Updated at 7.54pm
THE GARDA SIOCHÁNA Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) is to launch an investigation into a collision between a car and motorcycle in Cavan yesterday.
A 44-year-old motorcyclist was airlifted to Beaumont Hospital in Dublin yesterday evening after the crash, and is in a serious condition.
The driver of the car that struck the motorbike, a 24-year-old man, was arrested at the scene on suspicion of dangerous driving.
Just before lunchtime today, the incident was referred to GSOC for examination as it was reported that the car involved in the collision was being pursued by gardaí.
There will now be two parallel investigations: one by gardaí into the conduct of the 24-year-old accused of dangerous driving, and a second by GSOC to ascertain whether the garda pursuit of the car was justified and proportionate.
The Ombudsman’s office will also look at whether the garda chase directly resulted in serious harm to a person.
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Its a tough one. If the Guards don’t chase they may never get the suspected if they do there can incidents like this. Hopefully the biker is OK.
In the 90′s some UK police forces banned all pursuits, but the criminals kept driving like lunatics, they even pulled up outside police stations and tried to goad the police to chase them. If you don’t pursue then quite a lot of people will flee and drive carzily, if you do pursue then only some people will flee.
Are spikes still used? never hear much about them
This practice might be a bit safer in some situations
i just feel why should anyone run in a hit n run? they r going to be out free anyways…
@Alan
It appears the use of stingers was discontinued for safety reasons
As far as I am aware that stingers are used in the UK and other Countries with very few problems . Just wondering why the problems are here ?
Stingers were used last week in Co Kerry – Abbeydorney
The Gardai are in a sort of no win situation really. Not to pursue we complain, when they do they are ‘investigated’. Must be a tad frustrating.
I think it’s a common sense thing. They should be instructed on when to back off. You hear of them backing off all the time in the UK when they deem it too dangerous to other road users not themselves.
And there’s me thinking they’re paid to catch criminals
Not paid to injure or kill themselves in that endeavour.
Or put the public at risk during a chase.
A sad incident but can you imagine the carnage and mayhem that would follow if it was announced that guards would no longer be able to follow suspects who were trying to escape?!
Technically Gardai are not supposed to chase. An Garda Siochana have a no pursuit policy, but it’s not often enforced. It’s there for when the proverbial hits the fan and higher ups have an automatic disciplinary route. Although there is expert tuition given to official drivers, the equipment given (like hyundai i30′s) are woefully inadequate to the task.
The sad fact is the Gardai are now in a place where you won’t get in trouble for a criminal getting away, but you do risk getting in trouble if you try to stop them. The public (through demands for GSOC etc) don’t want to give Gardai the discretion or space to make these decisions in the heat of moment, the consequence been that a lot of Gardai are saying to themselves ‘catch them another day’. I certainly wouldn’t risk my job, my family home, and a possible legal action just so a criminal can get conviction number #99 of a revolving door system. The more proverbial Damocles swords put above me, the more ‘cover my aśś’ I become.
Just a view from inside the blue line.
I’m sorry, you’re saying you’re a Garda and there is a no pursuit policy? That’s preposterous
If they gave out real sentences for people who got into garda chases there would be less chases and safer roads. The judges, legislator and prison authorities should be the ones under investigation.
I really can’t find any evidence that increasing prison sentences has any effect on crime rates. It has and effect on tax rates, but crime rates–not so much. Economic prosperity has a greater effect on crime rates than longer jail sentences.
Maybe you can find some data that supports your theory. If you can, please let us know about it.
I think your slightly confusing the point. Jail sentences do not solve the issue of crime. If they did we would have rid ourselves of crime many many centuries ago. Jail sentences, however, can have an effect on deterring the commission of a crime. It’s not the same effect deterrence for every level of society, but a deterrence nevertheless. You’re right in that education and economy (usually going hand in hand) play a greater effect on levels of crime. There’s even further afield thinking (Donohue-Levitt hypothesis) that says legalising abortion can have a very noticeable effect on crime, but that’s another argument for another day.
Suffice to say harsher sentencing and risk of prison IS likely to lead to lesser commission of an offence. Actual jail time served does very little to preventing the reoccurrence of that same offence (or other offences).
It is good to see sensible comments on an issue like this. Its a hard call for any Garda, instinct tells you to follow as you just don’t know what has happened but if an unfortunate incident occurs you may well be liable. At least the public can see there will be an independent so in the long run it can only improve accountability. Yes, all our thoughts should go to the family of the injured person.
I’m not sure how objective a gsoc investigation can be given their conduct in the past. They seem to send a lot of stuff to court that the judges say should never have been brought before them. It’s like they are a little over zealous in some circumstances to justify their existence.
The DPP sends those cases forward, not Gsoc. GSOC only gather the evidence
They make the recommendations after their investigations.
And the DPP then decides whether a) there’s enough evidence to secure a conviction, or b) if it’s in the public interest to have a public hearing.
The DPP have come into criticism as been too afraid to make a decision on a lot of GSOC’s investigations, rather, taking the approach that a Judge should make the call. That way the DPP’s office avoids the question of making political or socially unfavourable decisions (such as the allegation of siding with the Gardai). But judges have queried the reasoning for bringing a number of cases to court, both of the DPPs role and GSOCs role.
Maybe allow the gardai to batter the filth off the road like they can do in the U.S, might have a few of the filth quaking in their piss stained trackies.
good man ronan and you think the gardai could be trusted to know who deserves a beating and who doesn’t
These people have no fear of law and no consideration for anyone but themselves . If you break the law and continue to run from guards you should expect a long sentence . This is the only way to reduce this kind of event . For too long the suspects circumstances have been takin into account . Time to take back this country for the decent people .
You already have some of the lowest crime rates in the world. Your crime rate is 50% of the US rate. England has 4x as much crime as you do. You are # 40 in the list of per-capita crime rates at 1:20. That’s not bad at all. Nepal is better. But you have 1/2 the level of crime than the EU average.
All that with what is essentially an unarmed police force.
I’d say you deserve credit for your efforts. Ireland is doing a great job and you’re a great people. Crime happens EVERYWHERE (except Mars). This knee-jerk reaction to every crime story is just emotional claptrap that doesn’t withstand scrutiny.
It is unfortunately not a knee jerk reaction. There is a cohort of criminals who insist on commuting crime. That the system successfully address crime in other areas does not mean we should tolerate the crime committed by repeat offenders.
If your idea of adding to the debate is to criticism others comments and to the retreat to a ‘we’ve done enough’ position then you’ve nothing to add.
Seamus the figures are doctored to look good for the dept of justice. Not the garda on the grounds doing. Just no point quoting the stats about crime. The country is being pillaged.
@seamus.
It’s always difficult to compare crime rates with other countries because their recording systems are different and different crimes may be recorded under different law and order acts slanting the figures. The UK for example would crime things which other European nations would probably not entertain.
I passed this scene just after the accident happened. My thoughts are with the man and his family. The crash site was carnage.
gaffney. You are an idiot
If it’s found against the Gardai it’ll be tough for them to decide whether or not to pursue a suspect.. Hope the biker is ok, the suspect is liked up for dangerous driving (long sentence) and the Gardai are justified and given our support.
if a car fails to stop for gardai they aint going to change their mind half way through. they’re only going to stop when they hit something if your lucky its a tree if your not its you. can anybody honestly say that they believe the gardai don’t get a trill or rush from being in a hot pursuit. in reality this just means 2 cars( are more) driving like lunatics.
Gerry, your views are quite disgusting, frankly. You seriously think that Gardaí get kicks out of chasing idiots who are driving like lunatics? Your moral compass is totally off course. It’s clear from a number of your comments that you have a grudge against the Gardaí. While I’m at it, you should learn to spell correctly or at least make up a more convincing fake name. There’s nobody in the entire Irish phone book who spells his name “O’Donell”. The correct spelling is “O’Donnell”.
sorry boss. I don’t spell to gud. I don’t see know insiders in da oul phone buk either hey.
If you don’t believe that the gardai enjoy a chase then you don’t know many gardai are have never watched any of the many tv programmes that revolve around police chases
You really are a moron. Can’t spell your own name. Think we can discount your opinions dumbass
Don’t try to tell me how to spell my name you halfwit.
They watch a few episodes of Cops and they think they can drive
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