The Garda Commissioner, Drew Harris, has said there will be a review of road safety following the death of Garda Kevin Flatley in Dublin yesterday.
Commissioner Harris also called for a “reset” of the approach to road safety following recent deaths on the roads, particularly in relation to speeding, not wearing seatbelts, and distracted and drink-driving.
Gda Flatley, a 49-year-old married father-of-two was knocked down as he tried to flag down a high-powered Yamaha 1000 motorcycle at a speeding checkpoint on the old Swords to Balbriggan Road in Lanestown near Blakes Cross.
The motorcyclist remains in a critical condition in Beaumont Hospital.
Gda Flatley is remembered today as a dedicated, committed and valued Garda who lost his life in the line of duty.
Commissioner Harris said his death once again illustrates “the extraordinary dangers” facing gardaí, and called for “a reset”, “a rethink” of society’s approach to road safety.
He said gardaí want to see “what is the cutting edge, the leading edge in terms of technology and tactics we need to deploy.”
He also said there will be a review of roads policing and lessons will be learned because we want to police the roads as safely as possible.
However, the Commissioner pointed out that while this tragedy represents “the very hard edge” of roads policing, gardaí need to and will keep their enforcement efforts going.
He also said the dangers that gardaí were facing was “extraordinary” and that “unbelievably” a second garda was also hit by a motorcycle in Coolock yesterday and had his leg broken.
One man was arrested.
A second garda was also hit by a motorcycle in Coolock yesterday and broke his leg. One man was arrested.
A third Garda was also injured on duty last week when he was hit by a car.
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